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swing

v. · n.
US //ˈswɪŋ// UK //swˈɪŋ// swing
Irregular verb past swung past participle swung
  1. 1 to move back and forth (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to move or make something move back and forth while hanging from a fixed point.

    to move or cause to move with an oscillatory motion while suspended or pivoted.

    Example

    The children spent the whole afternoon swinging on the old tire in the garden.

    Example

    The heavy iron gate began to swing shut as the wind picked up, its hinges creaking loudly in the silence.
  2. 2 to change suddenly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to change quickly from one opinion, mood, or state to another.

    to fluctuate or shift significantly between different states, opinions, or conditions.

    Example

    His mood can swing from happy to angry in just a few seconds.

    Example

    Public opinion began to swing toward the opposition party as the economic crisis deepened throughout the winter months.
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  1. 3 to manage or arrange (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    to successfully arrange or afford something, especially when it is difficult.

    to manage to achieve or arrange something through effort or cleverness; often used regarding financial feasibility.

    Example

    I am not sure if I can swing a trip to Hawaii this year on my current budget.

    Example

    If we can swing an early meeting with the director, we might secure the funding before the end of the fiscal year.
  2. 4 playground equipment (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a seat hanging from ropes or chains that you sit on to move back and forth.

    a suspended seat on which a person may sit and move to and fro for recreation.

    Example

    The little girl asked her father to push her higher on the swing.

    Example

    The playground was deserted, with only a single empty swing moving gently in the breeze.

  3. 5 music and dance style (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Music

    a type of jazz music with a bouncy rhythm, or the dance people do to it.

    a style of jazz characterized by a propulsive rhythm and 'swung' notes; also the associated partner dance.

    Example

    The band played classic swing music that made everyone want to get up and dance.

    Example

    The revival of swing in the late nineties brought a new generation of dancers to the ballrooms of London and New York.
  4. 6 a shift in opinion or results (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Politics

    a big change in a situation, especially in how people vote.

    a discernible shift in public opinion or electoral support from one party or candidate to another.

    Example

    There was a massive swing toward the Green Party in the local elections.

    Example

    Political analysts were surprised by the ten-percent swing in the rural districts, which ultimately decided the outcome of the national election.
  5. 7 theatre understudy (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Theatre

    a performer who learns many different roles so they can replace anyone who is sick.

    a member of the company who understudies several ensemble roles and is prepared to perform any of them on short notice.

    Example

    The swing had to go on stage tonight because three ensemble members were ill.

    Example

    Being a swing is one of the most demanding jobs in musical theatre, requiring the performer to memorize multiple tracks and blocking patterns.
  6. 8 sideways movement of a ball (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Sport

    the way a ball moves to the side through the air after it is thrown or hit.

    the lateral movement of a ball through the air, typically achieved by specific bowling or striking techniques.

    Example

    The bowler got a lot of swing on the ball because of the humid weather.

    Example

    The pitcher's ability to generate late swing made it nearly impossible for the batters to make solid contact with the ball.
Origin

From Middle English swyngen, from Old English swingan, from Proto-West Germanic swingan, from Proto-Germanic swinganą (compare Low German swingen, German schwingen, Dutch zwingen, Swedish svinga), from Proto-Indo-European swenk-, sweng- (compare Scottish Gaelic seang (“thin”)). Related to swink.

Idioms8 entries

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