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swell
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- pronunciation:
- swel
- parts of speech:
- intransitive verb, transitive verb, noun, adjective
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb, noun, adjective), Word Builder, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| inflections: |
swells, swelling, swelled, swollen |
| definition 1: |
to increase in volume by inflation, absorption, internal pressure, growth, or the like; expand; distend.
- synonyms:
- distend, expand, grow, increase
- antonyms:
- contract, shrink, shrivel
- similar words:
- balloon, belly, billow, bloat, blow up, dilate, enlarge, inflate, puff, rise, tumefy, wax
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| definition 2: |
to increase in amount, intensity, force, or the like.
The sound swelled louder and louder.The deficit is swelling each year.- synonyms:
- increase, rise
- antonyms:
- decrease, shrink, taper, wane
- similar words:
- augment, balloon, build, burgeon, enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, mount, wax
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| definition 3: |
to grow within and rise out; spring or well up.
a fountain swelling from the groundEmotion is swelling in his heart.- synonyms:
- rise, spring, well up
- similar words:
- balloon, billow, burst, grow
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| definition 4: |
to bulge out; protrude.
His stomach swells over his belt.- synonyms:
- bulge, protrude
- similar words:
- balloon, billow, jut out, stick out
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| definition 5: |
to become inflated with pride or vanity; behave in a pompous manner.
- similar words:
- bluster, inflate
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| related words: |
accrue, accumulate, bag, gush, heave, increase, mushroom, pouch, rise, roll, start, stick, surge |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| definition 1: |
to cause to increase in volume or bulk; inflate; distend.
- synonyms:
- distend, inflate, tumefy
- antonyms:
- deflate
- similar words:
- bloat, dilate, enlarge, protrude
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| definition 2: |
to cause to increase in amount, intensity, loudness, force, or the like; augment.
- synonyms:
- augment, enlarge, escalate, increase, intensify, magnify
- antonyms:
- decrease
- similar words:
- raise
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| definition 3: |
to fill or affect with strong emotion.
- synonyms:
- affect, move, touch
- similar words:
- flush, inflate
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| definition 4: |
to cause to bulge out or protrude.
The bee sting has swelled part of the child's arm.- synonyms:
- protrude
- similar words:
- billow, bulge
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| definition 5: |
to cause to puff up with vanity or pride.
- synonyms:
- bloat, inflate
- similar words:
- puff
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| related words: |
bag, build, dose, exaggerate, grow, increase, inflame, roll |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
the act of swelling or a swollen state; inflation; distention.
- synonyms:
- distention, inflation, swelling
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| definition 2: |
an increase in amount, intensity, loudness, force, or the like.
- synonyms:
- increase
- antonyms:
- decrease, dip
- similar words:
- surge
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| definition 3: |
a rapid rise of emotion within a person.
a swell of patriotic feelings- synonyms:
- flush, surge
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| definition 4: |
a long wave or series of waves.
The ship was lifted by the swell.- synonyms:
- wave
- similar words:
- billow, roll
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| definition 5: |
a smooth or gradual rise in the land; rounded hill; slight slope.
- synonyms:
- hillock, mound, slope
- antonyms:
- dip
- similar words:
- roll
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| definition 6: |
in music, a crescendo followed by a diminuendo, esp. on the same tone.
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| definition 7: |
(informal; often pl.) a fashionable, typically wealthy, person.
That street is where all the swells live. |
| related words: |
boss, gush, wash, wave |
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| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
(informal) really fine; excellent; great.
Joey is a swell friend.We had a swell day on the lake today.- synonyms:
- dandy, great, jim-dandy, super, terrific
- antonyms:
- bad, lousy
- similar words:
- excellent, fine, nice
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| definition 2: |
(informal) fashionably elegant; stylish.
She's going to the opera with all her swell friends tonight.How much did they pay for that swell apartment of theirs?- synonyms:
- chic, fashionable, smart, stylish
- similar words:
- elegant
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| related words: |
luxurious |
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