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swell up



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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
swell /swɛl/USA pronunciation   v., swelled, swol•len /ˈswoʊlən/USA pronunciation  or swelled, swell•ing, n., adj. 
v. 
  1. Pathologyto (cause to) enlarge in size or weight: [no object; (~ + up)]Her foot swelled (up) where the bee had stung her.[~ + object (+ up)]Such a sting could swell the foot (up) to twice its size.[~ (+ up) + object]to swell (up) the foot.
  2. [no object] to rise in waves, as the sea.
  3. to bulge out, as a sail: [no object; (~ + out)]The sails swelled (out) in the wind.[~ (+ out) + object]The wind swelled (out) the sails.
  4. to (cause to) increase in amount, degree, force, etc.: [no object]The ranks of the unemployed swelled to new heights last year.[~ + object]This economic policy will swell the ranks of the unemployed.
  5. to increase gradually in volume, as sound:[no object]The organ swelled up for the last bars of the hymn.
  6. to arise and grow within one, as a feeling or emotion:[no object]Pride swelled within her at the mention of her award.
  7. to become puffed up with pride:[no object]She swelled with pride.

n. [countable]
  1. Pathologythe act of swelling, or the condition of being swollen.
  2. Oceanographya wave, esp. when long and unbroken, or a series of such waves.
  3. an increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
  4. a gradual increase in loudness of sound.
  5. Slang Terms[Informal.]
    • a fashionably dressed person;
      dandy.
    • a socially important or well-known person.

adj. Informal. 
  1. Informal Termsfirst-rate;
    excellent;
    of high quality;
    fine:a swell prize.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
swell  (swel),USA pronunciation v., swelled, swol•len or swelled, swell•ing, n., adj. 
v.i. 
  1. to grow in bulk, as by the absorption of moisture or the processes of growth.
  2. Pathologyto increase abnormally in size, as by inflation, distention, accumulation of fluids, or the like:Her ankles swelled from standing.
  3. to rise in waves, as the sea.
  4. to well up, as a spring or as tears.
  5. to bulge out, as a sail or the middle of a cask.
  6. to grow in amount, degree, force, etc.
  7. to increase gradually in volume or intensity, as sound:The music swelled.
  8. to arise and grow within one, as a feeling or emotion.
  9. to become puffed up with pride.

v.t. 
  1. to cause to grow in bulk.
  2. to cause to increase gradually in loudness:to swell a musical tone.
  3. to cause (a thing) to bulge out or be protuberant.
  4. to increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
  5. to affect with a strong, expansive emotion.
  6. to puff up with pride.

n. 
  1. Pathologythe act of swelling or the condition of being swollen.
  2. Pathologyinflation or distention.
  3. a protuberant part.
  4. Oceanographya wave, esp. when long and unbroken, or a series of such waves.
  5. a gradually rising elevation of the land.
  6. an increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
  7. a gradual increase in loudness of sound.
  8. [Music.]
    • Music and Dancea gradual increase (crescendo) followed by a gradual decrease (diminuendo) in loudness or force of musical sound.
    • Music and Dancethe sign ( ) for indicating this.
    • a device, as in an organ, by which the loudness of tones may be varied.
  9. a swelling of emotion within one.
  10. Slang Terms
    • a fashionably dressed person;
      dandy.
    • a socially prominent person.

adj. Informal. 
  1. Informal Terms(of things) stylish;
    elegant:a swell hotel.
  2. Informal Terms(of persons) fashionably dressed or socially prominent.
  3. Informal Termsfirst-rate;
    fine:a swell party.
  • bef. 900; Middle English swellen (verb, verbal), Old English swellan; cognate with Dutch zwellen, German schwellen, Old Norse svella; akin to Gothic ufswalleins pride
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged distend, expand.
    • 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged protrude.
    • 10.See corresponding entry in Unabridged inflate, expand.
    • 17.See corresponding entry in Unabridged swelling.
    • 18.See corresponding entry in Unabridged bulge.
    • 19.See corresponding entry in Unabridged billow.
    • 27, 28.See corresponding entry in Unabridged grand.
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged contract.
    • 13.See corresponding entry in Unabridged decrease, diminish.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
swell / swɛl/ (swells, swelling, swelled, swollen, swelled)
  1. to grow or cause to grow in size, esp as a result of internal pressure
    Compare contract1,
  2. to expand or cause to expand at a particular point or above the surrounding level; protrude
  3. to grow or cause to grow in size, amount, intensity, or degree: the party is swelling with new recruits
  4. to puff or be puffed up with pride or another emotion
  5. (intransitive) (of seas or lakes) to rise in waves
  6. (intransitive) to well up or overflow
  7. (transitive) to make (a musical phrase) increase gradually in volume and then diminish
  1. the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea
  2. a succession of waves or a single large wave
  3. a swelling or being swollen; expansion
  4. an increase in quantity or degree; inflation
  5. a bulge; protuberance
  6. a gentle hill
  7. a person who is very fashionably dressed
  8. a man of high social or political standing
  9. a crescendo followed by an immediate diminuendo
  10. Also called: swell organ a set of pipes on an organ housed in a box (swell box) fitted with a shutter operated by a pedal, which can be opened or closed to control the volume
  11. the manual on an organ controlling this
    Compare choir4, great21
  1. stylish or grand
  2. excellent; first-class
Etymology: Old English swellan; related to Old Norse svella, Old Frisian swella, German schwellen
'swell up' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
botch - intumesce - popcorn - rise - tumult - tumulus - upswell

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