# swallowing

/ˈswɑɫoʊɪŋ/ (US) · /swˈɒləʊɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/swallowing
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the physical act

noun · CEFR B1

the act of moving food or drink from your mouth down your throat.

For teachers: the physiological act of deglutition; the process of passing something from the mouth through the esophagus to the stomach.

- The doctor asked the patient if they felt any pain during swallowing.
- Difficulty with swallowing, known clinically as dysphagia, can be a symptom of various underlying neurological or structural conditions.

## Examples

- He had a sore throat and found swallowing difficult.
- The doctor asked the patient to demonstrate swallowing to check for any obstruction in the throat.
- Efficient swallowing requires the coordinated effort of several muscle groups to ensure that food enters the esophagus rather than the airway, a process that can be impaired by neurological conditions.

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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.