ENGLISH
REFERENCE

swallowed

v.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈswɑɫoʊd// UK //swˈɒləʊd// swal·lowed

v. to move food, drink, or medicine from your mouth down into your stomach. You do this using the muscles in your throat.

v. to cause food or liquid to pass down the throat into the esophagus by muscular action. Often used figuratively to describe the complete absorption or disappearance of an object or emotion.


SIMPLE

He swallowed the pill with a glass of water.

CONTEXTUAL

The child swallowed a small piece of plastic by accident and had to visit the doctor.

COMPLEX

The massive waves swallowed the small boat within seconds, leaving no trace of the vessel on the horizon as the storm intensified.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive when referring to an object, but can be used intransitively to describe the physical action of the throat muscles.

© 2026 English Reference