swelling

UK: /ˈswɛlɪŋ/ US: /ˈswɛlɪŋ/ ,(swel′ing)

From the verb swell: (⇒ conjugate)

swelling is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

swell•ing /ˈswɛlɪŋ/   n. [countable]

1. the act of a person or thing that swells.
2. a swollen part:
   The swelling on his head still hasn't gone down.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

swell•ing  (swel′ing), n. 

1. the act of a person or thing that swells.
2. the condition of being or becoming swollen.
3. a swollen part;
   a protuberance or prominence.
4. Pathology an abnormal enlargement or protuberance, as that resulting from edema.

• bef. 900; Middle English, Old English; see swell, -ing¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

swelling / ˈswɛlɪŋ/ noun

1. the act of expansion or inflation
2. the state of being or becoming swollen
3. a swollen or inflated part or area
4. an abnormal enlargement of a bodily structure or part, esp as the result of injury

Related adjective(s): tumescent

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

swell /swɛl/   v., swelled, swol•len /ˈswoʊlən/  or swelled, swell•ing, n., adj. 
v. 

1. Pathology to (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]

8. Pathology the act of swelling, or the condition of being swollen.
9. Oceanography a wave, esp. when long and unbroken, or a series of such waves.
10. an increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
11. a gradual increase in loudness of sound.
12. Slang Terms [Informal.]
    • a fashionably dressed person;
      dandy.
    • a socially important or well-known person.

adj. Informal. 

13. Informal Terms first-rate;
    excellent;
    of high quality;
    fine:
    a swell prize.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

swell  (swel), 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. Pathology to 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. 

10. to cause to grow in bulk.
11. to cause to increase gradually in loudness:
    to swell a musical tone.
12. to cause (a thing) to bulge out or be protuberant.
13. to increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
14. to affect with a strong, expansive emotion.
15. to puff up with pride.

n. 

16. Pathology the act of swelling or the condition of being swollen.
17. Pathology inflation or distention.
18. a protuberant part.
19. Oceanography a wave, esp. when long and unbroken, or a series of such waves.
20. a gradually rising elevation of the land.
21. an increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
22. a gradual increase in loudness of sound.
23. [Music.]
    • Music and Dance a gradual increase (crescendo) followed by a gradual decrease (diminuendo) in loudness or force of musical sound.
    • Music and Dance the sign ( ) for indicating this.
    • a device, as in an organ, by which the loudness of tones may be varied.
24. a swelling of emotion within one.
25. Slang Terms
    • a fashionably dressed person;
      dandy.
    • a socially prominent person.

adj. Informal. 

26. Informal Terms (of things) stylish;
    elegant:
    a swell hotel.
27. Informal Terms (of persons) fashionably dressed or socially prominent.
28. Informal Terms first-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

Synonyms

• 1. distend, expand.
• 5. protrude.
• 10. inflate, expand.
• 17. swelling.
• 18. bulge.
• 19. billow.
• 27, 28. grand.

Antonyms

• 1. contract.
• 13. decrease, diminish.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

swell / swɛl/ verb (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

noun

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

adjective

1. stylish or grand
2. excellent; first-class

Etymology: Old English swellan; related to Old Norse svella, Old Frisian swella, German schwellen