Swallow meaning

What does “swallow” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“swallow” is a noun and verb with 11 meanings. Its most common meaning is: a small amount of liquid food.

swallow

noun

  1. a small amount of liquid food

    “a sup of ale”

    Synonymssup
  2. the act of swallowing

    “one swallow of the liquid was enough”

    “he took a drink of his beer and smacked his lips”

  3. small long-winged songbird noted for swift graceful flight and the regularity of its migrations

verb

  1. pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking

    “Swallow the raw fish--it won't kill you!”

    Synonymsget down
  2. engulf and destroy

    “The Nazis swallowed the Baltic countries”

  3. enclose or envelop completely, as if by swallowing

    “The huge waves swallowed the small boat and it sank shortly thereafter”

  4. utter indistinctly

    “She swallowed the last words of her speech”

  5. take back what one has said

    “He swallowed his words”

  6. keep from expressing

    “I swallowed my anger and kept quiet”

  7. tolerate or accommodate oneself to

    “I shall have to accept these unpleasant working conditions”

    “I swallowed the insult”

  8. believe or accept without questioning or challenge

    “Am I supposed to swallow that story?”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University