Swallow Definition & Meaning
swallow
- noun
- a small amount of liquid food; "a sup of ale"
- the act of swallowing; "one swallow of the liquid was enough"; "he took a drink of his beer and smacked his lips"
- small long-winged songbird noted for swift graceful flight and the regularity of its migrations
- verb
- pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking; "Swallow the raw fish--it won't kill you!"
- engulf and destroy; "The Nazis swallowed the Baltic countries"
- enclose or envelop completely, as if by swallowing; "The huge waves swallowed the small boat and it sank shortly thereafter"
- utter indistinctly; "She swallowed the last words of her speech"
- take back what one has said; "He swallowed his words"
- keep from expressing; "I swallowed my anger and kept quiet"
- tolerate or accommodate oneself to; "I shall have to accept these unpleasant working conditions"; "I swallowed the insult"; "She has learned to live with her husband's little idiosyncrasies"
- believe or accept without questioning or challenge; "Am I supposed to swallow that story?"
"Swallow" in song lyrics
See how swallow is used in real songs:
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"B: Well, do you swallow?"
2 Live Crew — Bill So Horny -
"Is hard to swallow"
40 Glocc f/ Suga Free, Mr. Shadow — Leave Me Alone (Little Bitty Box) -
"Yo man couldn't make you swallow"
5th Ward Boyz f/ Willie D (of Geto Boys) — PWA
Words that rhyme with swallow
Usage tips for "swallow"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "swallow" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for swallow to find words that pair well.