verb · neutral

swim

/swɪm/SWIM

Band 6-7speakingtask2

to move through water by moving the body or parts of the body

Examples

I try to swim at least twice a week for exercise.

We swam in the lake until sunset.

He has swum the English Channel before.

Band 8 sentence

To keep fit while studying full-time I swim for forty minutes every morning before classes.

Collocations

  • go swimming
  • swim laps
  • swim in the sea/pool
  • swim safely

Word family

swim verb (base)swims verb (3rd sing.)swam verb (past simple)swum verb (past participle)swimming verb (gerund/participle), nounswimmer noun

Common mistakes

swimed / swimmedswam (past) / swum (past participle)

have swamhave swum

Say it for a higher band

5go (to the pool)6exercise7+swim

Synonyms

bathe

paddle

Easily confused

go swimming

On Sundays we often go swimming at the municipal pool.

Related words

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In Irregular forms

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