SWING | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Old English swingan ‘to beat, whip’, also ‘rush’, geswing ‘a stroke with a weapon’, of Germanic origin; related to German schwingen ‘brandish’

move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side while suspended or on an axis

move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side while suspended or on axis

• her long black skirt swung about her legs
• the door swung shut behind him
• a priest began swinging a censer

move by grasping a support from below and leaping

move by grasping support from below and leaping

• we swung across like two trapeze artists
• the Irishman swung himself into the saddle

move or cause to move in a smooth, curving line

move or cause to move in smooth

• she swung her legs to the side of the bed
• the cab swung into the car park

shift or cause to shift from one opinion, mood, or state of affairs to another

shift or cause to shift from one opinion, mood, or state of affairs

• opinion swung in the Chancellor's favour
• the failure to seek peace could swing sentiment the other way

play music with a flowing but vigorous rhythm

play music with easy flowing but vigorous rhythm

• the band swung on

(of an event, place, or way of life) be lively, exciting, or fashionable.

be lively or fashionable

engage in group sex or swap sexual partners within a group, especially on a habitual basis.

be promiscuous

a seat suspended by ropes or chains, on which someone may sit and swing back and forth.

seat suspended by ropes or chains, on which someone may sit and swing back and forth

an act of swinging

act of swinging

• with the swing of her arm, the knife flashed through the air

a discernible change in opinion, especially the amount by which votes or points scored change from one side to another

discernible change in opinion

• a five per cent swing to Labour

a style of jazz or dance music with a flowing but vigorous rhythm.

style of jazz or dance music with flowing but vigorous rhythm

a swift tour involving a number of stops, especially one undertaken as part of a political campaign.

swift tour involving several stops

(in musical theatre) an understudy, typically one who covers multiple roles in the chorus of a particular production.

(in musical theatre) an understudy