Swelling Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms swelling American [swel-ing] / ˈswɛl ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that swells.

2. the condition of being or becoming swollen. swollen.

3. a swollen swollen part; a protuberance or prominence.

4. Pathology. an abnormal enlargement or protuberance, as that resulting from edema.

swelling British / ˈswɛlɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of expansion or inflation

2. the state of being or becoming swollen

3. a swollen or inflated part or area

4. an abnormal enlargement of a bodily structure or part, esp as the result of injury

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• unswelling adjective

Etymology

Origin of swelling

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; swell + -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To disguise the swelling caused by hours of handshaking, Volk suggested Lincoln grasp a sawed-off broomstick.

From The Wall Street Journal

While some athletes require surgery and a year of rehabilitation after tearing the ligament, which helps stabilize the knee, Vonn said she had no pain and little swelling.

From The Wall Street Journal

The hosts' 12th straight victory was roared to the rafters and belief is swelling that their run can carry them to a first title since 2020.

From BBC

Coulier, 66, first revealed his cancer battle in November 2024, telling People and NBC’s “Today” that his lymphoma diagnosis came after he contracted an upper respiratory infection that caused major swelling in his lymph nodes.

From Los Angeles Times

Mount St. Helens didn’t seem to be swelling.

From Literature

Related Words

• abscess
• blister
• bruise
• bump
• contusion
• inflammation
• injury
• nodule
• sore
• tumor
• welt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.