swell

adjectiveAmericanold-fashioned

UK /swel/

1
very good
Synonyms and related words
Very good
great
select
terrific

swell

adjectiveAmericanold-fashioned

US /swel/

1
very good
Synonyms and related words
Very good
great
select
terrific

swell

noun

UK /swel/

Word Forms

singular	swell
plural	swells

1
countable/uncountable usually singularthe movement of the waves in the sea
a heavy swell (=large rough waves)
Synonyms and related words
Tides and waves
backwash
billow
breaker
2
singular an increase in something such as a sound or a feeling
a swell of protest/support
Synonyms and related words
Rates of increase and the process of increasing
uptick
increase
growth
3
singular mainly literarythe round shape of something
the swell of her belly
Synonyms and related words
Rounded and circular shapes
ball
balloon
band

swell

noun

US /swel/

Word Forms

singular	swell
plural	swells

1
countable/uncountable usually singularthe movement of the waves in the ocean
a heavy swell (=large rough waves)
Synonyms and related words
Tides and waves
backwash
billow
breaker
2
singular an increase in something such as a sound or a feeling
a swell of protest/support
Synonyms and related words
Rates of increase and the process of increasing
uptick
increase
growth
3
singular mainly literarythe round shape of something
the swell of her belly
Synonyms and related words
Rounded and circular shapes
ball
balloon
band

swell

verb

UK /swel/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	swell
he/she/it	swells
present participle	swelling
past tense	swelled
past participle	swollen

1

swell
or
swell up
intransitive to become larger than normal, usually because of liquid collecting inside
My ankles tend to swell when I travel by air.
Moisture causes the timber to swell.
Synonyms and related words
To become larger
grow
expand
swell
1. 1a
  transitive to make something larger than normal
  be swollen with something:
  The river was swollen with rain.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make something larger
  enlarge
  maximize
  scale up
2
intransitive to increase in amount or number
Attendance figures have swollen to 37,000 this season.
Synonyms and related words
To increase, or to increase something
increase
go up
add to
1. 2a
  transitive to make something increase
  Holidaymakers swell the local population in summer.
  Synonyms and related words
  To increase, or to increase something
  increase
  go up
  add to
3
intransitive literaryto become gradually louder
The shouts swelled to a roar.
Synonyms and related words
What sound can do and changing sounds
amplify
reverberate
fade
4
intransitive/transitive mainly literarysomeone who swells with pride, joy etc feels extremely proud or happy
Synonyms and related words
To feel an emotion
feel
experience
give up to

phrases

swell someone’s coffers

swell the ranks

phrasal verbs

swell up

swell

verb

US /swel/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	swell
he/she/it	swells
present participle	swelling
past tense	swelled
past participle	swelled or swollen

1

swell
or
swell up
intransitive to become larger than normal, usually because of liquid collecting inside
My ankles tend to swell when I travel by air.
Moisture causes the timber to swell.
Synonyms and related words
To become larger
grow
expand
swell
1. 1a
  transitive to make something larger than normal
  be swollen with something:
  The river was swollen with rain.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make something larger
  enlarge
  magnify
  maximize
2
intransitive to increase in amount or number
Attendance figures have swollen to 37,000 this season.
Synonyms and related words
To increase, or to increase something
increase
add to
raise
1. 2a
  transitive to make something increase
  Vacationers swell the local population in summer.
  Synonyms and related words
  To increase, or to increase something
  increase
  add to
  raise
3
intransitive literaryto become gradually louder
The shouts swelled to a roar.
Synonyms and related words
What sound can do and changing sounds
amplify
reverberate
fade
4
intransitive/transitive mainly literarysomeone who swells with pride, joy, etc. feels extremely proud or happy
Synonyms and related words
To feel an emotion
feel
experience
give up to

phrases

swell someone’s coffers

swell the ranks

phrasal verbs

swell up

swell

swell

swell

swell

swell ​‌

swell

swell up

swell ​‌

swell

swell up

swell

swell