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Swam: meaning, definitions and examples

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swam

 

[ swæm ]

Verb
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

Translations of the word "swam" in other languages:

🇵🇹 nadou

🇮🇳 तैरना

🇩🇪 schwamm

🇮🇩 berenang

🇺🇦 плавав

🇵🇱 pływałem

🇯🇵 泳いだ

🇫🇷 nageait

🇪🇸 nadé

🇹🇷 yüzdüm

🇰🇷 수영했다

🇸🇦 سبح

🇨🇿 plaval

🇸🇰 plával

🇨🇳 游泳了

🇸🇮 plaval

🇮🇸 sund

🇰🇿 судақ

🇬🇪 ცურავდა

🇦🇿 üzdüm

🇲🇽 nadé

Word origin

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.