A1verb1K

Swim

UK /["/swɪm/","/swɪmz/","/swæm/","/swʌm/","/ˈswɪmɪŋ/"]/US /["/swɪm/","/swɪmz/","/swæm/","/swʌm/","/ˈswɪmɪŋ/"]/

Definition

to move through water by moving your arms and legs, without touching the bottom

In simple words: To move through water by using arms and legs.

Examples

I love to swim in the ocean during the summer.
Can you swim across the river?
She takes swimming lessons every Saturday.
Fish swim gracefully in the water.
He learned to swim when he was a child.

Usage notes

Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Generally inappropriate in a metaphorical sense unless used in idioms.

Grammar pattern

swim + object

Memory hint

Think of a 'swim' like a fish gliding through the water swiftly.

Collocations

strongly
vigorously
well
can
know how to
learn (how) to
across
in
to
go swimming
strongly
vigorously
well
can
know how to
learn (how) to
across
in
to
go swimming
strongly
vigorously
well
can
know how to
learn (how) to
across
in
to
go swimming

Synonyms

float
paddle
glide
navigate
wade

Antonyms

sink
drown

Common mistakes

Confusing 'swim' with 'swam' for present tense.
Using 'swim' as a noun instead of 'swimming'.
Mixing up the prepositions used with 'swim' in phrases like 'swim in water'.