swing Meaning & Definition
What Does Swing Mean?
Swing is used as a verb meaning To rotate about an off-centre fixed point. It is also used to mean To dance. As a noun, it means The act, or an instance, of swinging. As a noun, it means A hanging seat in a children's playground, for acrobats in a circus, or on a porch for relaxing.
Quick Facts About Swing
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈswɪŋ/ |
| Synonyms | lilt, sweep and drop |
| Plural | swings |
| Verb forms | swings, swinging, swung |
Swing Definition (Verb)
- To rotate about an off-centre fixed point.
The plant swung in the breeze.
- To dance.
- To ride on a swing.
The children laughed as they swung.
- To participate in the swinging lifestyle; to participate in wifeswapping.
- To hang from the gallows; to be punished by hanging, swing for something or someone; (often hyperbolic) to be severely punished.
- To make the ball move sideways in its trajectory.
- To move sideways in its trajectory.
- To fluctuate or change.
It wasn't long before the crowd's mood swung towards restless irritability.
- To move (an object) backward and forward; to wave.
He swung his sword as hard as he could.
- To change (a numerical result); especially to change the outcome of an election.
- To make (something) work; especially to afford (something) financially.
If it’s not too expensive, I think we can swing it.
- To play notes that are in pairs by making the first of the pair slightly longer than written (augmentation) and the second shorter, resulting in a bouncy, uneven rhythm.
- To move one's arm in a punching motion.
- In dancing, to turn around in a small circle with one's partner, holding hands or arms.
"to swing one's partner", or simply "to swing"
- To admit or turn something for the purpose of shaping it; said of a lathe.
The lathe can swing a pulley of 12 inches diameter.
- To put (a door, gate, etc.) on hinges so that it can swing or turn.
- To turn round by action of wind or tide when at anchor.
A ship swings with the tide.
- To turn in a different direction.
- To be sexually oriented.
swing both ways
- To engage in sexual activity with a man (specifically, with his penis)
She couldn't wait to get out of the restaurant with him, so she could take him back to her place and swing on his dick all night.
Swing as a Noun
- The act, or an instance, of swinging.
- The manner in which something is swung.
He worked tirelessly to improve his golf swing.
- The sweep or compass of a swinging body.
- A line, cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which anything may swing.
- A hanging seat that can swing back and forth, in a children's playground, for acrobats in a circus, or on a porch for relaxing.
- An energetic and acrobatic late-1930s partner-based dance style, also known as jitterbug and lindy-hop.
- The genre of music associated with this dance style.
- The amount of change towards or away from something.
In an election, the increase or decrease in the number of votes for opposition parties compared with votes for the incumbent party.
The polls showed a wide swing to Labour.
- In an election, the increase or decrease in the number of votes for opposition parties compared with votes for the incumbent party.
The polls showed a wide swing to Labour.
- Sideways movement of the ball as it flies through the air.
- Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it.
- In a musical theater production, a performer who understudies several roles.
- A basic dance step in which a pair link hands and turn round together in a circle.
- The maximum amount of change that has occurred or can occur; the sum of the maximum changes in any direction.
- Free course; unrestrained liberty.
- Influence or power of anything put in motion.
- A type of hook with the arm more extended.
Noun
- A hanging seat in a children's playground, for acrobats in a circus, or on a porch for relaxing.
- A dance style.
- The amount of change towards or away from something.
Verb
- To hang from the gallows.
- (of a ball) to move sideways in its trajectory.
- (of a bowler) to make the ball move sideways in its trajectory.
Synonyms of Swing
Swing in a Sentence
The plant swung in the breeze.
The children laughed as they swung.
It wasn't long before the crowd's mood swung towards restless irritability.
He swung his sword as hard as he could.
If it’s not too expensive, I think we can swing it.
"to swing one's partner", or simply "to swing"
The lathe can swing a pulley of 12 inches diameter.
A ship swings with the tide.
swing both ways
She couldn't wait to get out of the restaurant with him, so she could take him back to her place and swing on his dick all night.
He worked tirelessly to improve his golf swing.
Door swing indicates direction the door opens.
the swing of a pendulum
The polls showed a wide swing to Labour.
Word Forms & Grammar
swing (third-person singular simple present swings, present participle swinging, simple past swung or (archaic or dialectal) swang, past participle swung or (archaic or dialectal) swang or (archaic) swungen)
swing (countable and uncountable, plural swings)
Words That Rhyme With Swing
Origin of Swing
From Middle English swyngen, from Old English swingan, from Proto-West Germanic *swingan, from Proto-Germanic *swinganą (compare Low German swingen, German schwingen, Dutch zwingen, Swedish svinga), from Proto-Indo-European *swenk-, *sweng- (compare Scottish Gaelic seang (“thin”)). Related to swink.
Common Questions About Swing
Is swing a verb or a noun?
Swing is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for swing?
Words with a similar meaning to swing include lilt, sweep and drop. See the full list of swing synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of swing?
The plural of swing is swings.
What is the past tense of swing?
The past tense of swing is swung. The present participle is swinging.