swinging
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.moving or swaying from side to side or back and forth.
v.the present participle of swing, describing a rhythmic oscillating motion.
Simple“The children were swinging on the playground equipment all afternoon.”
In context“The heavy pendulum was swinging with perfect regularity, marking the passage of seconds in the silent hallway.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the physical action of moving back and forth.
n.the act or motion of something that swings; often used to describe a sports technique.
Simple“The coach told him that the swinging of his arms was too fast.”
In context“The rhythmic swinging of the scythes through the tall grass was the only sound in the meadow.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a lifestyle where couples have sex with other people.
n.the practice of engaging in sexual activities with other couples or individuals as a social activity.
Simple“They decided to try swinging to add some excitement to their marriage.”
In context“Sociologists have studied swinging as a subculture that challenges traditional notions of monogamy within long-term relationships.”
Synonymspartner swapping - 04 C1 Advanced
adj.very modern, exciting, and fashionable.
adj.characterised by modern, lively, and fashionable social activity; famously associated with 1960s London.
Simple“London was known as a swinging city during the 1960s.”
In context“The documentary captures the essence of the swinging sixties, focusing on the explosion of new music and bold fashion choices.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is mostly used to describe the 1960s; using it for modern contexts may sound dated or humorous.
“Young continues her aunt Elizabeth Jane Howard’s much-loved Cazalet Chronicles, bringing her story of a sprawling upper-middle-class English family into the swinging 60s.”
“This fun symphony of swinging doors is more of an open-and-shut case – a bit of extra mystery wouldn’t go amiss.”
The sexual practice is so called after the custom in swing dancing of changing partners after each dance, unlike traditional ballroom dance styles where one has a single partner.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.