Swum Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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swum

[swʌm ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

past participle

Swum is the past participle of the verb 'swim.' It describes the action of having moved through water by using your limbs. This word is typically used in perfect tenses, such as present perfect or past perfect, to indicate that the action of swimming has been completed. In addition, it implies a sense of accomplishment or experience in the activity of swimming.

Synonyms

swam.

Examples of usage

  • I have swum in the ocean.
  • She had swum across the lake.
  • They have swum every day this week.

Translations

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Origin of 'swum'

The word 'swum' originates from the Old English 'swieman' meaning 'to swim.' This term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic '*swimanan,' which in turn derives from the Proto-Indo-European root '*swe-mā,' meaning 'to move or flow.' The linguistic evolution has formed various iterations of the word across different Germanic languages. For example, in Dutch, it appears as 'zwemmen,' while in German it is 'schwimmen.' Over the centuries, 'swim' and its derivatives have maintained their association with the act of moving through water, evolving in spelling and form but retaining their essential meaning.


Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,161 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.