Swell Definition & Meaning

swell
adjective
  1. very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing"
noun
  1. the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea
  2. a rounded elevation (especially one on an ocean floor)
  3. a crescendo followed by a decrescendo
  4. a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance
verb
  1. increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity; "The music swelled to a crescendo"
  2. become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger; "The mother was swelling with importance when she spoke of her son"
  3. expand abnormally; "The bellies of the starving children are swelling"
  4. come up (as of feelings and thoughts, or other ephemeral things); "Strong emotions welled up"; "Smoke swelled from it"
  5. come up, as of a liquid; "Tears well in her eyes"; "the currents well up"
  6. cause to become swollen; "The water swells the wood"

Synonyms for swell

beau noun

a man who is the lover of a girl or young woman

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
bully adj

very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
clotheshorse noun

a framework on which to hang clothes (as for drying) a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
cool adj

neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat; "a cool autumn day"; "a cool room"; "cool summer dresses

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
corking adj

very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing"

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
cracking adj

very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party

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dandy adj

very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party

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distend verb

become wider; "His pupils were dilated" cause to expand as it by internal pressure

♫ Rhymes
dude noun

an informal form of address for a man; "Say, fellow, what are you doing?

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
fop noun

a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

"Swell" in song lyrics

See how swell is used in real songs:

  • "Hit after hit make your iPod swell"
    2 Hungry Bros. present 8thW1 — Talkin
  • "HELL NO, I kick two and make the dome swell"
    3rd Bass — Come In
  • "But I can make that kitty-cat swell"
    69 Boyz f/ 95 South — Ding Dong Song

Words that rhyme with swell

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Usage tips for "swell"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "swell" 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 swell to find words that pair well.

Use "swell" in a verse

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♫ Rhymes with swell ↔ Synonyms for swell 🔬 Words containing swell

Frequently asked questions

What does swell mean?
very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing" the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea a rounded elevation (especially one on an ocean floor) a crescendo followed by a decrescendo a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity; "The music swelled to a crescendo" become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger
What part of speech is swell?
Swell is an adjective, a noun, and a verb.
How many definitions does swell have?
Swell has 11 definitions across 3 parts of speech (adjective, noun, verb).

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