Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense swishes, present participle swishing, past tense, past participle swished, comparative swisher, superlative swishest
1. verb
If something swishes or if you swish it, it moves quickly through the air, making a soft sound.
A car swished by heading for the coast. [VERB adverb/preposition]
He swished his cape around his shoulders. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
He heard a swishing sound. [VERB-ing]
Swish is also a noun.
She turned with a swish of her skirt. [+ of]
2. adjective
If you describe something as swish, you mean that it is smart and fashionable.
[British, informal, old-fashioned]
...a swish cocktail bar.
Synonyms: smart, grand, posh [informal, mainly British], exclusive More Synonyms of swish
swish in British English
(swɪʃ)
verb
1.
to move with or make or cause to move with or make a whistling or hissing sound
2. (intransitive)
(esp of fabrics) to rustle
3. (transitive) slang, rare
to whip; flog
4. (transitive; foll byoff)
to cut with a swishing blow
noun
5.
a hissing or rustling sound or movement
6.
a rod for flogging or a blow from such a rod
7. US offensive, slang
an effeminate homosexual man
8.
a W African building material composed of mortar and mud or laterite, or more recently of cement and earth
adjective
9. informal, mainly British
fashionable; smart
10. US offensive, slang
effeminate and homosexual
Derived forms
swisher (ˈswisher)
noun
swishing (ˈswishing)
adjective
swishingly (ˈswishingly)
adverb
Word origin
C18: of imitative origin
swish in American English
(swɪʃ)
verb intransitive
1.
to move with a sharp, hissing sound, as a cane swung through the air
2.
to move with a light, brushing sound, as skirts in walking
3. Basketball
to pass through the basket without hitting the hoop or backboard
said of a ball
verb transitive
4.
to cause to swish
5.
to move (liquid), esp. in the mouth, with a light, hissing or gurgling sound
swish the mouthwash around
6. Basketball
to cause (a ball) to swish
noun
7.
a hissing or rustling sound
8.
a movement, etc. that makes this sound
9. US, Slang
an effeminate male homosexual
a term of contempt and hostility
adjective
10. British, Informal
fashionable
11. US, Slang
of, like, or for effeminate male homosexuals
a term of contempt and hostility
Word origin
echoic
Examples of 'swish' in a sentence
swish
The soap moved to a swish new site last year.
The Sun (2015)
There were cars swishing past so fast.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You meet at a birthday party in a swish hotel your destiny love owns.
The Sun (2011)
She loved swishing it around and trying different styles.
The Sun (2012)
Left-wing but with a swish car?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Dinner in the swish restaurant will cost at least another 150 each per night.
The Sun (2012)
As they walked from their suites, the players passed swish restaurants and luxury boutiques.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And with a swish of her skirt, she goes back to work.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I met him in a swish restaurant.
The Sun (2016)
I left that one under the bed of our swish hotel.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I walk around swishing it at passing men.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Outside the very swish restaurant, the maître d' is holding a clipboard.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Both favour the no-frills approach, often eschewing swish restaurants to munch burgers together when they meet.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The converted catamaran will have a 50ft pool, luxurious rooms and a swish lounge bar.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Add the garlic, rosemary and chilli flakes, giving them a good swish around the pan to release the flavours.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He turned up at the swish hotel suite to meet us all by himself, with no fuss and no entourage, and was utterly charming.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
swish
British English: swish VERB
If something swishes or if you swish it, it moves quickly through the air, making a soft sound.
A car swished by heading for the coast.
American English: swish
Brazilian Portuguese: abanar
Chinese: 嗖地快速移动
European Spanish: silbar
French: filer
German: rauschen
Italian: sibilare
Japanese: ひゅうっと音を立てて動かす/ひゅうっと動く
Korean: 휙 소리내며 지나가다
European Portuguese: abanar
Latin American Spanish: silbar
(adjective)
Definition
smart and fashionable
(informal British)
a swish cocktail bar
Synonyms
smart
I was dressed in a smart navy-blue suit.
grand
posh (informal, mainly British)
I took her to a posh hotel for a cocktail.
exclusive
He is a member of Britain's most exclusive club.
elegant
Patricia looked as beautiful and elegant as always.
swell (informal)
fashionable
It became fashionable to eat certain foods.
sumptuous
a sumptuous feast
ritzy (slang)
Palm Springs has a lot of ritzy restaurants.
de luxe
plush or plushy (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of elegant
Definition
attractive and graceful or stylish
Patricia looked as beautiful and elegant as always.
Synonyms
stylish,
fine,
beautiful,
sophisticated,
delicate,
artistic,
handsome,
fashionable,
refined,
cultivated,
chic,
luxurious,
exquisite,
nice,
discerning,
graceful,
polished,
sumptuous,
genteel,
choice,
tasteful,
urbane,
courtly,
modish,
comely (old-fashioned),
à la mode,
schmick (Australian, informal)
in the sense of exclusive
Definition
used or lived in by a privileged minority, esp. a fashionable clique