What does swimming mean?
Swimming is the activity of moving through water by using the arms and legs, and it is also the standard present participle and gerund of the verb swim. In its noun use, it refers to the activity itself or to the sport: swimming may be done recreationally, for exercise, or in organized competition. The word can also appear before nouns such as pool, lesson, champion, or costume, where it identifies the object, event, or person as connected with the activity. As a verb form, swimming describes an action occurring at the same time as another event, as in “She was swimming when the storm began,” and can form perfect tenses, as in “He has been swimming all morning.” Although swimming can be physically demanding and carries a mild connotation of strenuous exercise, the word itself is neutral and widely used. It is especially common in discussions of recreation, health, aquatic sports, education, and safety.
The present participle and gerund of swim, used to describe the action of moving through water with the limbs.
"The lifeguard was swimming toward the struggling boat."
As a present participle, it is used with auxiliary verbs in continuous and perfect constructions; as a gerund, it can name an activity.
The activity or sport of moving through water using the limbs.
"Swimming is an excellent form of full-body exercise."
The noun is normally uncountable when referring to the activity or sport in general.
Relating to swimming or intended or used for swimming.
"They reserved a lane for swimming training."
This attributive use is especially common in established expressions such as swimming pool, swimming lesson, and swimming costume.
The noun is normally uncountable when it refers to the activity or sport in general.
"Swimming is a popular activity for people of all ages."
Long before swimming pools and lane markers, Old English swimmers were already calling their activity swimman.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does swimming come from?
Swimming is formed from swim, which comes from Old English swimman and swim, with roots in Proto-Germanic *swimmaną. The ultimate origin of that Germanic word is uncertain. Related forms include German schwimmen, Dutch zwemmen, Swedish simma, and Danish svømme, reflecting the shared Germanic ancestry of the word.
How swimming is actually used
The form is neutral in register and is common in everyday speech, sport, and formal writing. As a present participle, it can accompany both continuous and perfect constructions.