Swollen Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms swollen American [swoh-luhn] / ˈswoʊ lən /

verb

1. a past participle of swell.

adjective

1. enlarged by or as by swelling; swelling; puffed up; tumid.

2. turgid or bombastic.

swollen British / ˈswəʊlən /

verb

1. a past participle of swell

"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

adjective

1. tumid or enlarged by or as if by swelling

2. turgid or bombastic

"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

• swollenly adverb
• swollenness noun
• unswollen adjective

Etymology

Origin of swollen

First recorded in 1300–50, for the adjective

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.

The 34-year-old all-rounder posted a picture on Instagram last week showing his eye heavily swollen and bruised, a graze on his cheek and lip, and a bandage stuffed in his nose.

From Barron's

The clouds were an angry swollen gray and looked like they were about to burst.

From Literature

His right knee was swollen and discolored where he had landed on it after being tossed in the air.

From Literature

Her knee was neither swollen nor terribly sore.

From The Wall Street Journal

At an Olympics news conference this week, Vonn said her knee felt stable, not swollen, and that she will be ready to compete Sunday in the women’s downhill.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bloated
• inflamed
• inflated

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.