swing (sw?ng)v. swung (sw?ng), swing·ing, swings v.intr.1. To move back and forth suspended or as if suspended from above.2. To hit at something with a sweeping motion of the arm: swung at the ball.3. To move laterally or in a curve: The car swung over to the curb.4. To turn in place on or as if on a hinge or pivot.5. To move along with an easy, swaying gait: swinging down the road.6. To propel oneself from one place or position to another by grasping a fixed support: swinging through the trees.7. To ride on a swing.8. To shift from one attitude, interest, condition, or emotion to another; vacillate.9. Slang To be put to death by hanging.10. Music a. To have a subtle, intuitively felt rhythm or sense of rhythm.b. To play with a subtle, intuitively felt sense of rhythm.11. Slang a. To be lively, trendy, and exciting.b. To engage in promiscuous sex.c. To exchange sex partners. Used especially of married couples.d. To have a sexual orientation: Which way does he swing?v.tr.1. To cause to move back and forth, as on a swing.2. To cause to move in a broad arc or curve: swing a bat; swung the car over.3. a. To cause to move with a sweeping motion: swinging his arms.b. To lift and convey with a sweeping motion: swung the cargo onto the deck.4. To suspend so as to sway or turn freely: swung a hammock between two trees.5. a. To suspend on hinges: swing a shutter.b. To cause to turn on hinges: swung the door shut.6. To cause to shift from one attitude, position, opinion, or condition to another.7. Informal a. To manage or arrange successfully: swing a deal.b. To bring around to the desired result: swing an election.8. Music To play (music) with a subtle, intuitively felt sense of rhythm.n.1. The act or an instance of swinging; movement back and forth or in one particular direction.2. The sweep or scope of something that swings: The pendulum’s swing is 12 inches.3. A blow or stroke executed with a sweeping motion of the arm.4. The manner in which one swings something, such as a bat or golf club.5. A shift from one attitude, position, or condition to another: a swing to conservatism.6. Freedom of action: The children have free swing in deciding what color to paint their room.7. a. A swaying, graceful motion: has a swing to her walk.b. A sweep back and forth: the swing of a bird across the sky.8. A course or tour that returns to the starting point: a swing across the state while campaigning.9. A seat suspended from above, as by ropes, on which one can ride back and forth for recreation.10. The normal rhythm of life or pace of activities: back in the swing.11. A steady, vigorous rhythm or movement, as in verse.12. A regular movement up or down, as in stock prices.13. Music a. A type of popular dance music developed about 1935 and based on jazz but employing a larger band, less improvisation, and simpler harmonic and rhythmic patterns.b. A ballroom dance performed to this music.c. A subtle, intuitively felt rhythmic quality or sense of rhythm.adj.1. Music Relating to or performing swing: a swing band.2. Determining an outcome; decisive: the swing vote.Idiom: in full swing At the highest level of activity or operation.[Middle English swingen, to beat, brandish, from Old English swingan, to flog, strike, swing.]swing?y adj.Synonyms: swing, oscillate, sway, rock2, vibrate, waver These verbs mean literally to move one way and then another, usually back and forth or to and fro. Some verbs often see figurative use: Swing usually applies to arclike movement of something attached at one extremity and free at the other: The ship’s lanterns swung violently in the raging storm. Figuratively, it denotes difficulty to decide or act from being drawn by conflicting purposes or emotions: “She swung between disbelief and dread” (Denise Grady). Oscillate similarly refers to a steady back-and-forth motion, as that of a pendulum, and also can indicate figurative vacillation: “a king … oscillating between fear of Rome and desire of independence” (Walter Besant). Sway suggests the movement of something unsteady, light, or flexible: “thousands of the little yellow blossoms all swaying to the light wind” (W.H. Hudson). To rock is to swing gently or rhythmically or sway or tilt violently: “The ruins of the ancient church seemed actually to rock and threaten to fall” (Sir Walter Scott). Vibrate implies quick periodic oscillations; it can also suggest trembling, pulsating, or quivering: “Music, when soft voices die, / Vibrates in the memory” (Percy Bysshe Shelley). Waver suggests unsteady, uncertain movement: “Through the hard, driving rain the sentinel birches wavered like pale, elongated ghosts” (Melissa Hardy). It also suggests inconstancy or irresolution of feeling or action: “I have a friend who was reared to believe, and he does. But his faith has wavered” (Dana Tierney).American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.swing (sw??) vb, swings, swinging or swung1. to move or cause to move rhythmically to and fro, as a free-hanging object; sway2. (intr) to move, walk, etc, with a relaxed and swaying motion3. to pivot or cause to pivot, as on a hinge4. to move or cause to move in a curve: the car swung around the bend. 5. to move or cause to move by suspending or being suspended6. to hang or be hung so as to be able to turn freely7. (intr) slang to be hanged: he’ll swing for it. 8. to alter or cause to alter habits, a course, etc9. (tr) informal to influence or manipulate successfully: I hope he can swing the deal. 10. (foll by: up) to raise or hoist, esp in a sweeping motion11. (often foll by: at) to hit out or strike (at), esp with a sweeping motion12. (tr) to wave (a weapon, etc) in a sweeping motion; flourish13. (Jazz) to arrange or play (music) with the rhythmically flexible and compulsive quality associated with jazz14. (Jazz) (intr) (of popular music, esp jazz, or of the musicians who play it) to have this quality15. slang to be lively and modern16. (intr) slang to swap sexual partners in a group, esp habitually17. (Cricket) (intr) cricket to bowl (a ball) with swing or (of a ball) to move with a swing18. (Navigation) to turn (a ship or aircraft) in order to test compass error19. swing both ways slang to enjoy sexual partners of both sexes20. swing the lead informal to malinger or make up excusesn21. the act or manner of swinging or the distance covered while swinging: a wide swing. 22. a sweeping stroke or blow23. (Boxing) boxing a wide punch from the side similar to but longer than a hook24. (Cricket) cricket the lateral movement of a bowled ball through the air25. any free-swaying motion26. any curving movement; sweep27. (Other Non-sporting Hobbies) something that swings or is swung, esp a suspended seat on which a person may sit and swing back and forth28. (Jazz) a. a kind of popular dance music influenced by jazz, usually played by big bands and originating in the 1930sb. (as modifier): swing music. 29. (Dancing) See swingbeat30. (Poetry) prosody a steady distinct rhythm or cadence in prose or verse31. informal the normal round or pace: get into the swing of things. 32. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a fluctuation, as in some business activity, voting pattern, etc33. (Economics) a fluctuation, as in some business activity, voting pattern, etc34. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (as modifier) able to bring about a swing in a voting pattern: swing party. 35. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (as modifier) having a mixed voting history, and thus becoming a target for political election campaigners: a swing state. 36. informal US free scope; freedom of activity37. chiefly US a circular tour38. Canadian a tour of a particular area or region39. Canadian (in the North) a train of freight sleighs or canoes40. go with a swing to go well; be successful41. in full swing at the height of activity42. swings and roundabouts equal advantages and disadvantages[Old English swingan; related to Old Frisian swinga, Old High German swingan]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014swing (sw??) v. swung, swing?ing, v.t. 1. to cause to move to and fro or oscillate, as something suspended from above. 2. to cause to move or turn in alternate directions or in either direction on a fixed point or axis, as a door on hinges. 3. to move (the hand or something held) with an oscillating or rotary movement. 4. to cause to move in a curve: I swung the car into the driveway. 5. to suspend so as to hang freely, as a hammock. 6. Informal. to sway, influence, or manage as desired: to swing a business deal. 7. to change or shift (one’s interest, opinion, support, etc.). 8. to play (a piece of music) in the style of swing. 9. to pull or turn (the propeller of an aircraft) by hand, esp. in order to start the engine. v.i. 10. to move or sway to and fro, as a pendulum or other suspended object. 11. to move to and fro in a swing. 12. to move or turn in alternate directions or in either direction on a fixed point or axis. 13. to move in a curve, as around a corner. 14. to move with a free, swaying motion. 15. to be suspended so as to hang freely, as a hammock. 16. to move by grasping a support with the hands and drawing up the arms. 17. to change or shift one’s attention, interest, opinion, etc. 18. to hit at with the hand or something grasped in the hand. 19. Slang. a. to be lively, fashionable, or trendy. b. to engage uninhibitedly in sexual activities. c. (esp. of married couples) to exchange partners for sexual activities. 20. Informal. to die by hanging. n. 21. the act or manner of swinging. 22. the amount or extent of such movement. 23. a curving movement or course. 24. a moving of the body with a free, swaying motion. 25. a blow or stroke with the hand or an object grasped in the hands. 26. a change or shift in attitude, opinion, behavior, etc. 27. a steady, marked rhythm or movement, as of verse. 28. a regular upward or downward movement in the price of a security or in any business activity. 29. freedom of action. 30. active operation; progression: to get into the swing of things. 31. something that is swung or that swings. 32. a seat suspended from above by means of a loop of rope or between ropes or rods, on which one may sit and swing to and fro for recreation. 33. a style of jazz often played by a large dance band and marked by a smooth beat and flowing phrasing. adj. 34. capable of determining the outcome, as of an election: the swing vote. Idioms: in full swing, operating at normal capacity; in full operation. [before 900; Middle English (v.), Old English swingan, c. Old High German swingan] Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.swingPast participle: swungGerund: swingingImperativePresentPreteritePresent ContinuousPresent PerfectPast ContinuousPast PerfectFutureFuture PerfectFuture ContinuousPresent Perfect ContinuousFuture Perfect ContinuousPast Perfect ContinuousConditionalPast ConditionalImperativeswingswingPresentI swingyou swinghe/she/it swingswe swingyou swingthey swingPreteriteI swungyou swunghe/she/it swungwe swungyou swungthey swungPresent ContinuousI am swingingyou are swinginghe/she/it is swingingwe are swingingyou are swingingthey are swingingPresent PerfectI have swungyou have swunghe/she/it has swungwe have swungyou have swungthey have swungPast ContinuousI was swingingyou were swinginghe/she/it was swingingwe were swingingyou were swingingthey were swingingPast PerfectI had swungyou had swunghe/she/it had swungwe had swungyou had swungthey had swungFutureI will swingyou will swinghe/she/it will swingwe will swingyou will swingthey will swingFuture PerfectI will have swungyou will have swunghe/she/it will have swungwe will have swungyou will have swungthey will have swungFuture ContinuousI will be swingingyou will be swinginghe/she/it will be swingingwe will be swingingyou will be swingingthey will be swingingPresent Perfect ContinuousI have been swingingyou have been swinginghe/she/it has been swingingwe have been swingingyou have been swingingthey have been swingingFuture Perfect ContinuousI will have been swingingyou will have been swinginghe/she/it will have been swingingwe will have been swingingyou will have been swingingthey will have been swingingPast Perfect ContinuousI had been swingingyou had been swinginghe/she/it had been swingingwe had been swingingyou had been swingingthey had been swingingConditionalI would swingyou would swinghe/she/it would swingwe would swingyou would swingthey would swingPast ConditionalI would have swungyou would have swunghe/she/it would have swungwe would have swungyou would have swungthey would have swungCollins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011swing1. A 1940s bridge between orchestras and rock?n?roll, swing featured big bands with strong brass sections and a swinging, rolling rhythm, often provided by a double bass.2. A fluctuation in a pattern of voting.Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited