swelled; swelled or swollen
ˈswō-lən 
; swelling
; swelling
1
a
: to expand (as in size, volume, or numbers) gradually beyond a normal or original limit
the population swelled
b
: to become distended or puffed up
her ankle is badly swollen
c
: to form a bulge or rounded elevation
2
a
: to become filled with pride and arrogance
b
: to behave or speak in a pompous, blustering, or self-important manner
c
: to play the swell
3
: to become distended with emotion
1
: to affect with a powerful or expansive emotion
2
: to increase the size, number, or intensity of
swell the applicant pool
1
: a long often massive and crestless wave or succession of waves often continuing beyond or after its cause (such as a gale)
2
a
: the condition of being protuberant
b
: a rounded elevation
3
a
: the act or process of swelling
b(1)
: a gradual increase and decrease of the loudness of a musical sound
also
: a sign indicating a swell
(2)
: a device used in an organ for governing loudness
4
a
archaic
: an impressive, pompous, or fashionable air or display
b
: a person dressed in the height of fashion
c
: a person of high social position or outstanding competence
Examples of swell in a Sentence
Verb
Her broken ankle swelled badly.
Heavy rains swelled the river.
The population has swelled in recent years.
The economy is swelling at an annual rate of five percent.
Immigrants have swelled the population.
Noun
The storm has brought high winds and heavy swells along the coast.
the swell of a pregnant woman's belly
a swell in the population
the swell of the music
Adjective
That was a swell party.
what a swell time we had at the country club dance
Recent Examples on the Web
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
These swells will reach the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bermuda later this week.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
It’s based on a Japanese anime series about a boy who can grow a chainsaw out of his head, and a huge swell of Gen Alpha, Gen-Z, and Millennial men over-indexed to make this one a hit domestically, just as its already found a wave of success abroad.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2025
Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
The startup, which has seen its valuation swell to $500 billion, announced its latest model, GPT-5, in August.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swell
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Verb
But as the Chiefs’ lead swelled in the second half, Washington abandoned the run.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
These swells will reach the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bermuda later this week.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
These swells are beginning to reach the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and will spread toward Bermuda later this week.
—Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
It’s based on a Japanese anime series about a boy who can grow a chainsaw out of his head, and a huge swell of Gen Alpha, Gen-Z, and Millennial men over-indexed to make this one a hit domestically, just as its already found a wave of success abroad.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Cowboys pass at will on Panthers’ defense While the Carolina defense continued to do a swell job against the run for a second consecutive weekend, the coverage unit left a lot to be desired against Prescott and the Cowboys’ aerial attack.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
The startup, which has seen its valuation swell to $500 billion, announced its latest model, GPT-5, in August.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swell
Cite this Entry
“Swell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swell. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
swell
1 of 3 verb
swelled; swelled or swollen
ˈswō-lən
; swelling
; swelling
1
a
: to expand (as in size, volume, or numbers) gradually beyond a normal or original limit
rivers swollen by rain
the population swelled
b
: to become abnormally enlarged or puffed up
the sprained ankle swelled badly
c
: to form a bulge or lump
2
: to fill or become filled with pride
3
: to fill or become filled with emotion
his heart was swollen with jealousy
swell
2 of 3 noun1
a
: a rounded lump
b
: the condition of bulging
2
: a long rolling wave or series of waves in the open sea
3
: a gradual increase and decrease of the loudness of a musical sound
also
: a sign marking a swell
4
: a fashionably dressed person
swell
3 of 3 adjective
: very good : excellent
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