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Swam Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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swam

[swæm ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

past tense

Swam is the past tense of swim, which refers to the act of moving through water using the body. It can describe both a casual activity done for enjoyment as well as a competitive sport. Swimming can involve different styles, such as freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. People often swim in pools, lakes, rivers, or oceans and may do so for exercise, relaxation, or competition.

Synonyms

floated, glided, paddled.

Examples of usage

  • She swam in the ocean yesterday.
  • They swam a mile in the lake.
  • He swam fast to reach the shore.
  • The children swam together at the pool.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Cultural Significance

  • In ancient cultures, swimming was vital for survival, especially in riverine and coastal communities, symbolizing freedom and exploration.
  • The Olympic Games featured swimming events as early as 1896, showcasing the competitive nature of the sport and its importance in modern culture.
  • Swimming plays a prominent role in many cultures, often tied to myths about creation, rebirth, or transformation, highlighting the water's mystical qualities.

Psychology

  • Research shows that learning to swim can boost children's confidence and self-esteem as they master a new skill.
  • Studies indicate a relationship between water activities and reduced stress levels, as being in water can have a calming effect.
  • Swimming has been linked to the release of endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that help improve mood and alleviate pain.

Health and Fitness

  • Swimming is often recommended as a low-impact exercise, making it suitable for people of all ages and physical abilities.
  • It’s known to engage nearly every muscle group, providing a full-body workout that improves cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength.
  • Regular swimming can help manage conditions such as asthma and arthritis by promoting lung capacity and joint flexibility.

Literature

  • In literature, swimming often symbolizes personal journey, freedom, or the search for truth, seen in works from classic poetry to modern novels.
  • The act of swimming is frequently used as a metaphor for overcoming struggles or diving into deep emotional experiences in storytelling.
  • Many authors, like Virginia Woolf, utilize water imagery in their works to convey a sense of fluidity and change in characters' lives.

Origin of 'swam'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'swim' comes from the Old English word 'swimman', meaning to move in water.
  • It has equivalents in several languages, like 'nadar' in Spanish and 'nager' in French, all deriving from similar root meanings of water movement.
  • Old Norse used the term 'sveima', which also means to swim, illustrating the shared linguistic roots in Northern Europe.

The word 'swam' originated from the Old English verb 'sweom', which means to swim. Its roots can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic '*swemô', which shares cognates in several Germanic languages, such as Old High German 'swemmen' and Old Norse 'svaema'. The word has evolved over the centuries but has maintained its core meaning related to movement in water. The usage of 'swam' as the simple past tense indicates a completed action and has been a part of the English language's verb conjugation system for many centuries. The verb's survival and continued use reflect the importance of swimming as an essential skill and recreational activity throughout history.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,445, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.