Swing Definition
swing
noun
- a state of steady vigorous action that is characteristic of an activity; "the party went with a swing"; "it took time to get into the swing of things"
- mechanical device used as a plaything to support someone swinging back and forth
- a sweeping blow or stroke; "he took a wild swing at my head"
- changing location by moving back and forth
- a style of jazz played by big bands popular in the 1930s; flowing rhythms but less complex than later styles of jazz
- a jaunty rhythm in music
- the act of swinging a golf club at a golf ball and (usually) hitting it
- in baseball; a batter's attempt to hit a pitched ball; "he took a vicious cut at the ball"
- a square dance figure; a pair of dancers join hands and dance around a point between them
verb
- move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting; "He swung his left fist"; "swing a bat"
- move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner; "He swung back"
- change direction with a swinging motion; turn; "swing back"; "swing forward"
- influence decisively; "This action swung many votes over to his side"
- make a big sweeping gesture or movement
- hang freely; "the ornaments dangled from the tree"; "The light dropped from the ceiling"
- hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement; "The soccer player began to swing at the referee"
- alternate dramatically between high and low values; "his mood swings"; "the market is swinging up and down"
- live in a lively, modern, and relaxed style; "The Woodstock generation attempted to swing freely"
- have a certain musical rhythm; "The music has to swing"
- be a social swinger; socialize a lot
- play with a subtle and intuitively felt sense of rhythm
- engage freely in promiscuous sex, often with the husband or wife of one's friends; "There were many swinging couples in the 1960's"
"Swing" in song lyrics
See how swing is used in real songs:
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"Girls steppin to the mall to swing"
3rd Bass — Brooklyn-Queens -
"Downtown brothers with an Uptown swing"
The 7A3 — Everybody Get Loose -
"The prime directive selects reflective aviation bathed in mood swing"
Aesop Rock — Float
Words that rhyme with swing
Usage tips for "swing"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "swing" 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 swing to find words that pair well.