swimmer

UK: /ˈswɪmə^r/

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

swim /swɪm/   v., swam, swum, swim•ming, n. 
v. 

1. Animal Behavior, Sport [no object] to move in water by using the limbs, fins, tail, etc.
2. Sport [~ + object] to move along in or cross (a body of water) this way.
3. to be filled or flooded with a liquid:
   [~ + with + object] eyes swimming with tears.
4. to be dizzy or giddy;
   seem to whirl:
   [no object] My head began to swim.

n. [countable]

5. Sport an act, instance, or period of swimming.

Idioms

6. Idioms in the swim, alert to current affairs, social activities, etc.

swim•mer, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

swim (swim),  v., swam, swum, swim•ming, n. 

v.i. 

1. Animal Behavior to move in water by movements of the limbs, fins, tail, etc.
2. to float on the surface of water or some other liquid.
3. to move, rest, or be suspended in air as if swimming in water.
4. Animal Behavior to move, glide, or go smoothly over a surface.
5. to be immersed or steeped in or overflowing or flooded with a liquid:
   eyes swimming with tears.
6. to be dizzy or giddy;
   seem to whirl:
   My head began to swim.

v.t. 

7. to move along in or cross (a body of water) by swimming:
   to swim a lake.
8. to perform (a particular stroke) in swimming:
   to swim a sidestroke.
9. to cause to swim or float, as on a stream.
10. to furnish with sufficient water to swim or float.

n. 

11. an act, instance, or period of swimming.
12. a motion as of swimming;
    a smooth, gliding movement.
13. in the swim, alert to or actively engaged in events;
    in the thick of things:
    Despite her age, she is still in the swim.

• bef. 900; Middle English swimmen, Old English swimman; cognate with Dutch zwemmen, German schwimmen, Old Norse svimma

swim′ma•ble, adj. 
swim′mer, n.