# swell

/ˈswɛɫ/ (US) · /swˈɛl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to become larger

verb · CEFR B2

to become larger or rounder than usual, often because of an injury or liquid.

For teachers: to expand in volume or size, typically due to internal pressure, inflammation, or the accumulation of fluid.

- His ankle started to swell immediately after he tripped on the stairs.
- The wood in the door frame began to swell during the humid summer months, making it nearly impossible to close properly.

### 2. to increase in sound

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to gradually become louder or stronger.

For teachers: to increase gradually in volume, intensity, or force.

- The sound of the drums began to swell as the parade moved closer.
- The orchestral arrangement allowed the brass section to swell during the finale, creating a powerful emotional climax.

### 4. a stylish person

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Informal

a person who is very fashionable or has a high social position.

For teachers: a person of high social standing or one who is dressed in an elegantly fashionable manner.

- The hotel lobby was filled with swells in expensive suits.
- The local club was once the exclusive haunt of city swells and their debutante daughters.

### 5. excellent

adjective · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal · Archaic

very good or pleasant.

For teachers: excellent or first-rate; used as a general term of approval.

- We had a swell time at the party last night.
- He thought it was a swell idea to drive across the country, though his parents were less enthusiastic.

Teaching tip: This usage is very old-fashioned and mostly associated with mid-20th-century American English; modern speakers use it ironically or in period dramas.

## Examples

- My ankle started to swell after I tripped.
- The wooden door tends to swell during the humid summer months, making it difficult to close.
- As the river began to swell from the heavy spring rains, local authorities monitored the levees for signs of structural failure.

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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.