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- Dictionaryswell/swɛl/
verb
- 1. (especially of a part of the body) become larger or rounder in size, typically as a result of an accumulation of fluid: "her bruised knee was already swelling up" Similar Opposite
- 2. become or make greater in intensity, number, amount, or volume: "the low murmur swelled to a roar" Similar Opposite
noun
- 1. a full or gently rounded shape or form: "the soft swell of her breast"
- 2. a gradual increase in amount, intensity, or volume: "a huge swell in the popularity of one-day cricket" Similar Opposite
adjective
- 1. excellent; very good: informal, dated North American "you're looking swell"
adverb
- 1. excellently; very well: informal, dated North American "everything was just going swell"
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to become larger and rounder than usual; to (cause to) increase in size or amount: It was obvious she had broken her toe, because it immediately started to swell (up). The group recruited more members, swelling its ranks (= increasing its size) to more than 1.3 million.
The meaning of SWELL is to expand (as in size, volume, or numbers) gradually beyond a normal or original limit. How to use swell in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Swell.
Swell definition: to grow in bulk, as by the absorption of moisture or the processes of growth.. See examples of SWELL used in a sentence.
SWELL meaning: 1. to become larger and rounder than usual; to (cause to) increase in size or amount: 2. If music…. Learn more.
swell. (swĕl) v. swelled, swelled or swol·len (swō′lən), swell·ing, swells. v.intr. 1. To increase in size or volume as a result of internal pressure; expand. 2. a. To increase in force, size, number, or degree: Membership in the club swelled.
You can use the word swell to describe what happens to an injured body part, like a black eye that swells up, or in a figurative way, to describe a feeling of fullness, like when your heart swells with pride at your sister's big music performance.
[transitive, intransitive] to increase or make something increase in number or size. swell something (to something) Last year's profits were swelled by a fall in production costs. Crowds of commuters were swelled by Christmas shoppers. We are looking for more volunteers to swell the ranks (= increase the number) of those already helping.