swap
verb /swɒp/
/swɑːp/
(also swop)
Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they swap | /swɒp/ /swɑːp/ |
| he / she / it swaps | /swɒps/ /swɑːps/ |
| past simple swapped | /swɒpt/ /swɑːpt/ |
| past participle swapped | /swɒpt/ /swɑːpt/ |
| -ing form swapping | /ˈswɒpɪŋ/ /ˈswɑːpɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to give something to somebody and receive something in exchange
- swap (something) (with somebody) I've finished this magazine. Can I swap with you?
- swap something for something I swapped my red scarf for her blue one.
- swap something Can we swap places? I can't see the screen.
- We spent the evening in the pub swapping stories (= telling each other stories) about our travels.
- [intransitive] swap (over) to start doing somebody else’s job, etc. while they do yours
- I'll drive there and then we'll swap over on the way back.
- [transitive] (especially British English) to replace one person or thing with another
- swap somebody/something (for somebody/something) I think I'll swap this sweater for one in another colour.
- swap somebody/something (over) I'm going to swap you over. Mike will go first and Jon will go second.
Word OriginMiddle English (originally in the sense ‘throw forcibly’): probably imitative of a resounding blow. Current senses have arisen from an early use meaning ‘strike hands as a token of agreement’.
Idioms
change/swap places (with somebody)
- (usually used in negative sentences) to be in somebody else’s situation
- I'm perfectly happy—I wouldn't change places with anyone.
swap/change places (with somebody)
- (usually used in negative sentences) to be in somebody else’s situation
- I'm perfectly happy—I wouldn't swap places with anyone.