# swallow

/ˈswɑɫoʊ/ (US) · /swˈɒləʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/swallow
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to ingest food or drink

verb · CEFR B1

to move food or drink from your mouth down your throat into your stomach.

For teachers: to cause food, liquid, or other substances to pass from the mouth into the stomach via the oesophagus.

- The pill was quite large, so she had to take a big drink of water to swallow it.
- Patients with severe throat infections often find it difficult to swallow even liquid nourishment without significant discomfort.

### 2. to believe something easily

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to believe a story or an explanation without asking questions, even if it seems unlikely.

For teachers: to accept a statement, story, or idea without protest or skepticism.

- I can't believe he actually swallowed that ridiculous excuse about his car breaking down.
- The public was not prepared to swallow the government's official explanation for the sudden increase in interest rates.

### 3. to hide an emotion

verb · CEFR B2

to stop yourself from showing a feeling, like pride or anger.

For teachers: to suppress or restrain an emotional response or utterance.

- He had to swallow his pride and ask his parents for a loan.
- She swallowed her anger and responded to the criticism with a professional, measured tone.

### 4. a small bird

noun · CEFR B2

a small bird with long, pointed wings and a tail that looks like a fork.

For teachers: a migratory passerine bird of the family Hirundinidae, characterised by a deeply forked tail and graceful flight.

- We saw a swallow building its nest under the roof of the old barn.
- The arrival of the first swallow is traditionally regarded in many European cultures as a definitive sign of spring.

### 5. an amount of liquid

noun · CEFR B1

the amount of food or drink that you take into your stomach at one time.

For teachers: the act of swallowing or the quantity of a substance taken in a single such act.

- He took a quick swallow of coffee before rushing out the door.
- After the long hike, a single swallow of cold water felt like the greatest luxury imaginable.

### 6. nautical pulley part

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the opening in a pulley block that a rope passes through.

For teachers: the space or opening in a pulley block between the sheave and the shell through which the rope is threaded.

- The sailor checked the swallow of the block to make sure the rope wasn't stuck.
- The boatswain noted that the rope was fraying because the swallow of the wooden block had become worn and jagged.

## Examples

- A swallow builds its nest under the roof.
- We watched a flock of swallows dipping and diving over the lake at sunset.
- The annual return of the swallows, with their swift, acrobatic flight, is heralded by many as the definitive sign that spring has truly arrived.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.