: any of numerous small widely distributed oscine birds (family Hirundinidae, the swallow family) that have a short bill, long pointed wings, and often a deeply forked tail and that feed on insects caught on the wing
2
: any of several birds that superficially resemble swallows
Verb
He swallowed the grape whole.
Chew your food well before you swallow.
The boss said, “Come in.” I swallowed hard and walked in.
Her story is pretty hard to swallow.
I can usually take criticism, but this is more than I can swallow. Noun (1)
drank the cool refreshing water in two swallows and held out her cup for more
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Verb
The applause the crowd gave Yim was swallowed up by the cathedral’s size and our sparse numbers, but she was visibly moved.—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025 Don't swallow water when swimming in pools, lakes, or other water areas.—Janelle McSwiggin, Health, 6 June 2025
Noun
Arthur asks whether this is an African or a European swallow.—ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025 Last year a swallow built a nest on the rocks above our front door.—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swallow
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English swalowen, from Old English swelgan; akin to Old High German swelgan to swallow
Noun (2)
Middle English swalowe, from Old English swealwe; akin to Old High German swalawa swallow
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