Illustration of swallow
- swallow 1
swallow
1 of 3noun (1)
swal·low ˈswä-(ˌ)lō 
1
: 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
swallow
2 of 3verb
swallowed; swallowing; swallows
transitive verb
1
: to take through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach
2
: to envelop or take in as if by swallowing : absorb
swallow the financial loss
watch night swallow the valley
3
: to accept without question, protest, or resentment
swallow an insult
a hard story to swallow
4
: take back, retract
had to swallow my words
5
: to keep from expressing or showing : repress
swallowed my anger
6
: to utter (words) indistinctly
intransitive verb
1
: to receive something into the body through the mouth and esophagus
2
: to perform the action characteristic of swallowing something especially under emotional stress
swallowable
ˈswä-lō-ə-bəl
adjective swallower
ˈswä-lə-wər
noun swallow
3 of 3noun (2)
1
: the passage connecting the mouth to the stomach
2
: a capacity for swallowing
3
a
: an act of swallowing
b
: an amount that can be swallowed at one time
Synonyms
Verb
- down
- get down
- ingest
Noun (2)
- belt
- draft
- drag
- drink
- gulp
- nip
- quaff
- shot
- sip
- slug
- snort
- sup
- swig
- swill
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English swalowe, from Old English swealwe; akin to Old High German swalawa swallow
Verb
Middle English swalowen, from Old English swelgan; akin to Old High German swelgan to swallow
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing swallow
Kids Definition
swallow 1 of 3
noun
swal·low ˈswä-lō
: a small bird that has long wings and a forked tail and feeds on insects caught while in flight
swallow
2 of 3verb
swallowed; swallowing
1
: to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat
Chew your food well before you swallow.
2
: to perform the actions used in swallowing something
Clear your throat and swallow before answering.
3
: to completely surround : engulf
Now she was half swallowed by the darkness of the barn door.
Richard Peck, A Year Down Yonder
Richard Peck, A Year Down Yonder4
: to accept or believe without question
You swallow every story you hear.
5
: to keep from expressing or showing : repress
I swallowed my pride and asked for help.
swallow
3 of 3noun
1
: an act of taking something into the stomach through the mouth and throat : an act of swallowing
He ate the cupcake in one swallow.
2
: an amount that can be swallowed at one time
She took a swallow of water.
Medical Definition
swallow 1 of 2
transitive verb
swal·low ˈswäl-(ˌ)ō
: to take through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach
intransitive verb
: to receive something into the body through the mouth and esophagus
swallow
2 of 2noun
1
: an act of swallowing
2
: an amount that can be swallowed at one time
swallow 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to sip
to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat try not to swallow the toothpaste Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sip
- chew
- drink
- eat
- ingest
- down
- lick
- consume
- gulp
- guzzle
- get down
- devour
- imbibe
- munch
- scoff
- sup
- knock back
- wolf
- ruminate
- scarf
- gobble (up or down)
- ingurgitate
- finish
- gorge
- put away
- mouth (down)
- polish off
- lap
- nibble (on)
- bolt
- gnaw (at or on)
- peck (at)
- dispatch
2
as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering swallowed his pride and asked for help Synonyms & Similar Words
- stifle
- suppress
- submerge
- smother
- contain
- control
- repress
- manage
- pocket
- sink
- hold back
- strangle
- choke (back)
- quash
- bridle
- squelch
- curb
- govern
- quell
- check
- muffle
- bottle up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- express
- take out
- release
- loose
- unleash
- vent
3
as in to believe
to regard as right or true my little niece swallows everything I tell her Synonyms & Similar Words
- believe
- take
- accept
- understand
- buy
- trust
- credit
- account
- set store by
- set store on
- presume
- assume
- deduce
- suppose
- infer
- accredit
- conclude
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reject
- discredit
- doubt
- suspect
- disbelieve
- question
- distrust
- challenge
- dispute
- mistrust
- misdoubt
swallow
2 of 2noun
as in gulp
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time drank the cool refreshing water in two swallows and held out her cup for more Synonyms & Similar Words
- gulp
- sip
- drink
- snort
- sup
- swig
- slug
- quaff
- belt
- drop
- draft
- swill
- nip
- shot
- drag
- dram
- Ieper
- ier
- ier's-brush
- ieroe
- iest
- ieyasu
- if
- if (at all) possible
- if (the) worse comes to (the) worst
- if (the) worst comes to (the) worst
- if all else fails
- if anything
- if at all possible
- if he is day
- if he/she is day
- if i may say so
- if I may say so
- if I may/might say so
- if i might say so
- if I say so myself
- if i were
- if I were (someone)
- if i were someone
- if I were you
- if it ain't broke, don't fix it