Swim vs. Swimming: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 5, 2023
Swim vs. Swimming: "Swim" is a verb denoting the act of moving through water, while "Swimming" is the gerund form representing the action or activity of swimming.
Key Differences
The word "Swim" typically serves as a verb indicating the action or ability to move through water by moving the body or parts of it. On the other hand, "Swimming" represents the -ing form of the verb "Swim" and functions as a noun or gerund, detailing the activity or action of moving through water.
"Swim" is versatile, exemplifying either the act or ability to swim, for instance, in the sentence "I can swim," it denotes capability. Conversely, "Swimming" is versatile in highlighting ongoing actions like "She is swimming," or denoting the activity in general as in "Swimming is enjoyable."
“Swim” can function in various tenses to depict actions occurring at different times; for example, "He swam in the lake yesterday," portrays a completed action. In contrast, “Swimming,” irrespective of tenses, often encapsulates the essence of the activity or the continuous nature of the action.
“Swim” is direct and concise in elucidating the act or ability to move in water. In juxtaposition, “Swimming” elaborates the action, depicting either the ongoing process of swimming or the concept of swimming as an activity or a sport.
In conclusion, “Swim” and “Swimming” are interrelated yet distinct, with “Swim” focusing on the action and “Swimming” extending to represent the continuous action or the broader concept of the activity or sport of moving through water.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb
Gerund (Verb/Noun)
Indicates
The act or ability to move through water
The activity or action of swimming
Function in a Sentence
Can function in various tenses
Depicts ongoing actions or used as a noun
Usage
Describes the act or ability to swim
Describes the process or concept of swimming
Example Sentence
"They swim in the ocean."
"They are swimming in the ocean."
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Swim and Swimming Definitions
Swim
Swim means to propel the body through water.
Fish swim in the sea.
Swimming
Swimming means engaging in the activity of moving through water.
He enjoys swimming in the lake.
Swim
Swim can imply being immersed in or flooded with liquid.
The room started to swim before her eyes.
Swimming
Swimming denotes the act of moving or floating in water.
Swimming with dolphins is a unique experience.
Swim
Swim represents traversing through water by moving the limbs.
Dolphins swim swiftly.
Swimming
Swimming symbolizes the act or skill of maintaining buoyancy in water.
Swimming requires coordinated movement.
Swim
To move through or on top of water by moving the limbs, fins, or tail or by undulating the body
Ducks swam in the pond.
Swimming
Swimming implies being immersed or involved deeply.
She is swimming in work.
Swim
To play or relax in water
The children went swimming in the surf.
Swimming
The act, sport, or technique of one that swims.
Swim
To float on water or another liquid
Suds swam on the surface of the dishwater.
Swimming
Relating to or used in swimming.
Swim
To be covered or flooded with a liquid
Chicken swimming in gravy.
Swimming
Capable of swimming
Swimming insects.
Swim
To possess a superfluity; abound
After winning the lottery, she was swimming in money.
Swimming
The act or art of sustaining and propelling the body in water.
Swim
To experience a floating or giddy sensation; be dizzy
"his brain still swimming with the effects of the last night's champagne" (Robert Smith Surtees).
Swimming
The state of being dizzy or in vertigo.
Swim
To appear to float or spin slowly
The room swam before my eyes.
Swimming
Present participle of swim
Swim
To move through or across (a body of water or a distance) by swimming
She swam the channel. I swam 10 laps.
Swimming
That swims; capable of swimming; adapted to, or used in, swimming; as, a swimming bird; a swimming motion.
Swim
To execute (a particular stroke) in swimming.
Swimming
Suffused with moisture; as, swimming eyes.
Swim
The act of swimming
Went for a swim before lunch.
Swimming
Being in a state of vertigo or dizziness; as, a swimming brain.
Swim
A distance covered by or period of time spent swimming.
Swimming
The act of one who swims.
Swim
An area, as of a river, abounding in fish.
Swimming
Vertigo; dizziness; as, a swimming in the head.
Swim
Of, relating to, or used for swimming
A swim mask.
Swimming
The act of swimming
Swim
(intransitive) To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means.
Swimming
Filled or brimming with tears;
Swimming eyes
Watery eyes
Sorrow made the eyes of many grow liquid
Swim
(intransitive) To become immersed in, or as if in, or flooded with, or as if with, a liquid
Swimming in self-pity
A bare few bits of meat swimming in watery sauce
Swimming
Applied to a fish depicted horizontally
Swim
(intransitive) To move around freely because of excess space.
Swimming
Swimming represents the sport or activity of propelling oneself through water.
Swimming is a great form of exercise.
Swim
(transitive) To traverse (a specific body of water, or a specific distance) by swimming; or, to utilize a specific swimming stroke; or, to compete in a specific swimming event.
For exercise, we like to swim laps around the pool.
I want to swim the 200-yard breaststroke in the finals.
Swim
To cause to swim.
To swim a horse across a river
Half of the guinea pigs were swum daily.
Swim
To float.
Sink or swim
Swim
(intransitive) To be overflowed or drenched.
Swim
(transitive) To immerse in water to make the lighter parts float.
To swim wheat in order to select seed
Swim
To test (a suspected witch) by throwing into a river; those who floated rather than sinking were deemed to be witches.
Swim
(intransitive) To glide along with a waving motion.
Swim
(intransitive) To be dizzy or vertiginous; have a giddy sensation; to have, or appear to have, a whirling motion.
My head was swimming after drinking two bottles of cheap wine.
Swim
An act or instance of swimming.
I'm going for a swim.
Swim
The sound, or air bladder, of a fish.
Swim
(UK) A part of a stream much frequented by fish.
Swim
A dance move of the 1960s in which the arms are moved in a freestyle swimming manner.
Swim
A dizziness; swoon.
Swim
Abbreviation of someone who isn't meused as a way to avoid self-designation or self-incrimination, especially in online drug forums
Swim
To be supported by water or other fluid; not to sink; to float; as, any substance will swim, whose specific gravity is less than that of the fluid in which it is immersed.
Swim
To move progressively in water by means of strokes with the hands and feet, or the fins or the tail.
Leap in with me into this angry flood,And swim to yonder point.
Swim
To be overflowed or drenched.
Sudden the ditches swell, the meadows swim.
Swim
Fig.: To be as if borne or floating in a fluid.
[They] now swim in joy.
Swim
To be filled with swimming animals.
[Streams] that swim full of small fishes.
Swim
To pass or move over or on by swimming; as, to swim a stream.
Sometimes he thought to swim the stormy main.
Swim
To cause or compel to swim; to make to float; as, to swim a horse across a river.
Swim
To immerse in water that the lighter parts may float; as, to swim wheat in order to select seed.
Swim
To be dizzy; to have an unsteady or reeling sensation; as, the head swims.
Swim
The act of swimming; a gliding motion, like that of one swimming.
Swim
The sound, or air bladder, of a fish.
Swim
A part of a stream much frequented by fish.
Swim
The act of swimming
Swim
Travel through water;
We had to swim for 20 minutes to reach the shore
A big fish was swimming in the tank
Swim
Be afloat; stay on a liquid surface; not sink
Swim
Swim denotes moving through water by moving body parts.
We can swim across the river.
Swim
Swim can symbolize floating or being suspended in a liquid.
Eggs swim in vinegar in the pickling jar.
FAQs
Can "Swim" symbolize being immersed in a liquid?
Yes, "Swim" can metaphorically imply being immersed or flooded with a liquid.
Can "Swimming" function as a noun?
Yes, "Swimming" can function as a noun, representing the activity of swimming.
Can "Swimming" depict an ongoing action?
Absolutely, "Swimming" often depicts the ongoing or continuous action of moving through water.
Can "Swimming" be used to refer to the sport?
Yes, "Swimming" can refer to the sport or activity of moving through water.
Can "Swimming" depict the skill of maintaining buoyancy?
Yes, "Swimming" often depicts the act or skill of maintaining buoyancy in water.
Can "Swim" denote floating in a liquid?
Yes, "Swim" can metaphorically represent floating or being suspended in a liquid.
Can "Swim" imply being filled with a liquid?
Metaphorically, "Swim" can imply being filled or covered with a liquid.
Can "Swim" represent the ability to move in water?
Yes, "Swim" can denote the ability or act of moving through water.
Can "Swimming" be the present continuous form of "Swim"?
Yes, "Swimming" is the present continuous form of the verb "Swim."
Is "Swim" primarily a verb?
Yes, "Swim" primarily functions as a verb.
Can "Swimming" represent being deeply involved in something?
Yes, metaphorically, "Swimming" can imply being deeply immersed or involved in something.
Is "Swim" used to describe a completed action?
"Swim" can be used in various tenses, including to describe completed actions, depending on context.
Can "Swimming" be used as an adjective?
Less commonly, "Swimming" can be part of compound adjectives, like “swimming pool.”
Are "Swim" and "Swimming" related in terms of their grammatical function?
Yes, "Swim" and "Swimming" are related, with "Swim" being the base verb and "Swimming" being its gerund form.
Can "Swim" imply traversing through water?
Absolutely, "Swim" often implies traversing or moving through water by moving the limbs.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
