: something that swings freely from or on a support
especially: a seat suspended by a rope or chains for swinging to and fro on for pleasure
6
a
: a curving course or outline
b
: a course from and back to a point : a circular tour
7
: jazz that is played (as by a big band) with a steady beat and that uses the harmonic structures of popular songs and the blues as a basis for improvisations and arrangements
8
: a short pass in football thrown to a back running to the outside
Verb The sheets swung on the clothesline. The clock's pendulum stopped swinging. She sat on the edge of the table, swinging her legs. The monkeys were swinging from branch to branch high up in the trees. I swung my suitcase into the backseat of the car. She sat on the counter and swung her legs over to the other side. She swung the door open. Be careful how you swing that ax. She swung the bat but missed the ball. She swung her purse at me. Noun One swing of the hammer was all it took to drive the nail through the board. the swing of a pendulum upward swings in the stock market The kids were playing on the swings. We sat on the porch swing and watched the neighbors. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
India lunged out to swing at it, hoping to put the ball into the outfield, The Rockies were using a five-man infield, and India was aiming for the open space in center field. Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2022 Just across from the new building could be a new exhibit for gibbons, small apes known for using their long arms to swing from tree to tree. Christine Condon, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Since the ball was resting in an awkward spot just outside the bunker, the Japanese standout would have needed to swing while standing inside the bunker to have any shot at getting the ball near the flag. Tim Schmitt, USA TODAY, 20 Aug. 2022 Jake Diekman got Oscar Gonzalez to swing and miss on a 1-1 count. Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2022 Here, seemingly uplifting Warnock's liberal platform can turn him off to swing and independent voters. Alexandra Marquez, NBC News, 11 Aug. 2022 Folks who swing by Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. can grab a full box of books for just $10. Blaine Callahan, Hartford Courant, 1 Sep. 2022 In this neutral kitchen, aged barnwood panels paired with black hardware create French doors that swing open to reveal the room's refrigerator and pantry. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2022 No warhead explosives, just blades that swing out to kill only one guy. Peter Weber, The Week, 6 Aug. 2022
Noun
Jackson, a second-year pro, was set to serve as a swing tackle. Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2022 And two days after his August stop in New Hampshire, Pence made a busy two-day swing through Iowa, whose caucuses have led off the presidential nominating calendar for half a century.Fox News, 18 Sep. 2022 The result is a race that could be an indicator of Trump's continued influence on swing districts and rural politics. Patrick Whittle, ajc, 18 Sep. 2022 Before Torkelson's key swing, Báez singled on a two-strike slider and Haase worked a six-pitch walk. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 17 Sep. 2022 After an uneven camp and preseason, Miami opted to keep Greg Little as its backup swing tackle. Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 17 Sep. 2022 Natick’s biggest momentum swing came on an interception by junior Teddy Ferrucci in the third quarter. Aj Traub, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2022 Aristides Aquino, who underwent his own recent swing change, has seen better results with it throughout September.The Enquirer, 16 Sep. 2022 Keeping everything else the same, Newgarden would’ve entered the west coast swing fresh off his 6th win of the year at WWT Raceway, with a 46-point edge on Power (2nd), a 57-point gap to Dixon (3rd) and 60 points to Ericsson (4th). Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Sep. 2022
Adjective
Our favorite feature, though, are its semi-swing doors. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 1 June 2022 Velasquez got Trevor Story on a check-swing third strike to end the inning, putting him in position to pick up the win. Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2022 The high-speed Ion3 camera captures club and ball launch data at the point of impact and also records an HD video of the club through the impact zone for post-swing analysis. Shaun Tolson, Robb Report, 3 May 2022 Adell simplified his pre-swing approach by removing excess movement and shortened his path to the ball, resulting in better plate discipline and more consistent contact. Mike Digiovannastaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2022 Max Scherzer, with no prior saves to his professional resume, closed out the game, ending it on a controversial check-swing third strike against Wilmer Flores that replays showed to be incorrect.Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2021 Jose Altuve followed with a bloop hit before Iglesias got Jose Siri on a check-swing third strike to stop Houston's four-game winning streak. Joe Reedy, Chron, 24 Sep. 2021 Yes on the recall was winning in a number of swing congressional districts in Orange County, according to the Cook Political Report's Dave Wasserman. Harry Enten, CNN, 18 Sep. 2021 And while Republicans in swing Congressional districts have branded Pelosi as evil, Democrats adore her and resented Moulton’s challenge.BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2021 See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, to beat, fling, hurl, rush, from Old English swingan to beat, fling oneself, rush; akin to Old High German swingan to fling, rush