From Middle English swyngen, from Old English swingan, from Proto-West Germanic *swingan, from Proto-Germanic *swinganą (compare Low German swingen, German schwingen, Dutch zwingen, Swedish svinga), from Proto-Indo-European *swenk-, *sweng- (compare Scottish Gaelic seang (“thin”)). Related to swink.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) The act, or an instance, of swinging.
For a time he kept to the ground, but finally, discovering no spoor indicative of nearby meat, he took to the trees. With the first dizzy swing from tree to tree all the old joy of living swept over him. Vain regrets and dull heartache were forgotten. Now was he living. Now, indeed, was the true happiness of perfect freedom his. 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 119:
(countable, uncountable) The manner in which something is swung.
Door swing indicates direction the door opens.
the swing of a pendulum
He worked tirelessly to improve his golf swing.
Improve your golf swing by taking your mate to the driving range. If you're good, you can show off and give her some tips. If you stink, play it for laughs. 2008 January–February, “70 Ways to Improve Every Day of the Week”, in Men's Health, volume 23, number 1, →ISSN, page 135:
(countable, uncountable) The sweep or compass of a swinging body.
(countable, uncountable) A line, cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which anything may swing.
(countable, uncountable) A hanging seat that can swing back and forth, in a children's playground, for acrobats in a circus, or on a porch for relaxing.
A German court has ruled that a landlord was within her rights to evict a man for persistently using a squeaky swing set as a sex prop in his flat late at night. 2014 August 22, “German sex-swing enthusiast evicted from flat after noise complaints”, in The Guardian, sourced from Associated Press, →ISSN:
To Edward […] he was terrible, nerve-inflaming, poisonously asphyxiating. He sat rocking himself in the late Mr. Churchill's swing chair, smoking and twaddling. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) An energetic and acrobatic late-1930s partner-based dance style, also known as jitterbug and lindy-hop.
(countable, uncountable) The genre of music associated with this dance style.
It makes no diff'rence / if it's sweet or hot. / Just give that rhythm / ev'rything you've got! / It don't mean a thing / if it ain't got that swing. 1931, “It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)”, Irving Mills (lyrics), Duke Ellington (music), performed by Ivie Anderson with Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra, Brunswick, catalog number 6265:
(countable, uncountable) The amount of change towards or away from something.
Miss Pole came round with a swing to as vehement a belief in the sorrowful tale as she had been sceptical before […] 1853, Elizabeth Gaskell, Cranford:
(countable, uncountable) The amount of change towards or away from something. ▸ In an election, the increase or decrease in the number of votes for opposition parties compared with votes for the incumbent party.
The polls showed a wide swing to Labour.
(countable, uncountable) Sideways movement of the ball as it flies through the air.
(countable, uncountable) Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it.
(countable, uncountable) In a musical theater production, a performer who understudies several roles.
I started as a swing. I mostly played Joanne and Mrs. Jefferson, the “Seasons of Love” soloist. I closed it out. So I was there for about the last four or five years. 2025 April 11, Stephen J. Dubner, quoting Crystal Monee Hall, “How Is Live Theater Still Alive?”, in Freakonomics Radio, number 629:
(countable, uncountable) A basic dance step in which a pair link hands and turn round together in a circle.
(countable, uncountable) The maximum amount of change that has occurred or can occur; the sum of the maximum changes in any direction.
Jesus' finishing has been one of the main concerns - since the start of last season the 23-year-old has underperformed his Premier League expected goals tally by 6.97goals ^([sic]) (in short, he has scored seven fewer goals than would be expected from the chances presented to him).
In contrast, Haaland is overperforming by 6.83 goals since joining Dortmund, which is almost a 14-goal swing between the pair. 2021 February 4, Raj Chohan, “Erling Braut Haaland: Would Man City, Liverpool, Man Utd or Chelsea suit striker best?”, in BBC Sport:
Take thy swing. 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Tenth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC:
To prevent anything which may prove an obstacle on the full swing of his genius. 1788, Edmund Burke, speech in the Impeachment of Warren Hastings:
(countable, uncountable) Influence or power of anything put in motion.
(countable, uncountable) A type of hook with the arm more extended.
From Middle English swyngen, from Old English swingan, from Proto-West Germanic *swingan, from Proto-Germanic *swinganą (compare Low German swingen, German schwingen, Dutch zwingen, Swedish svinga), from Proto-Indo-European *swenk-, *sweng- (compare Scottish Gaelic seang (“thin”)). Related to swink.
Meanings
(intransitive) To rotate about an off-centre fixed point.
The starliner swung into orbit around the planet Coruscant, and beyond the observation bubble appeared a glittering expanse of a billion golden lights. Through a thousand centuries of strife, those lights continued to shine. 2012 February 29, Troy Denning, Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse, Random House, →ISBN, page 3:
Guardiola swung haymakers in all directions; he presented one of the world’s richest clubs as a noble, put-upon underdog; and he established a siege mentality with such coruscating precision that Football Daily instantly bet the farm on City winning the Premier League this season. 2023 February 10, Rob Smyth, “Pep Guardiola comes out swinging haymakers in all directions”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 20 Mar 2023:
With one accord the tribe swung rapidly toward the frightened cries, and there found Terkoz holding an old female by the hair and beating her unmercifully with his great hands. 1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as chapter 12, in Tarzan of the Apes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, June 1914, →OCLC:
The plant swung in the breeze.
(intransitive) To dance.
(intransitive) To ride on a swing.
The children laughed as they swung.
(intransitive) To participate in the swinging lifestyle; to participate in wifeswapping.
We find it difficult to meet couples our age, and often swing with single, straight men. We have rules: no married guys cheating on their wives, no one too young or too old, and no one who supports Trump. 2017 October 13, anonymous author, “My life in sex: ‘We have rules for swinging: no one cheating on their wives, no one who supports Trump’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 17 Feb 2018:
My husband wasn’t so lucky and didn’t get to swing at all so was very disappointed. I’m desperate to do it all again but he’s not so keen. 2023 October 26, Eleanor Gordon-Smith, anonymous quotee, “My husband persuaded me to swing. I’m desperate to do it again, he’s not – what should I do?”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 16 Dec 2023:
(intransitive) To hang from the gallows; to be punished by hanging, swing for something or someone; (often hyperbolic) to be severely punished.
“It's all clear,” he whispered. “Have you the chisel and the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!”
Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. 1891, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Red-Headed League:
(transitive) (of a bowler) To make the ball move sideways in its trajectory.
(intransitive, of a ball) To move sideways in its trajectory.
(intransitive) To fluctuate or change.
It wasn't long before the crowd's mood swung towards restless irritability.
(transitive) To move (an object) backward and forward; to wave.
He swung his sword as hard as he could.
(transitive) To change (a numerical result); especially to change the outcome of an election.
(slang, transitive) To make (something) work; especially to afford (something) financially.
If it’s not too expensive, I think we can swing it.
(transitive) To play notes that are in pairs by making the first of the pair slightly longer than written (augmentation) and the second shorter, resulting in a bouncy, uneven rhythm.
(intransitive, transitive) To move one's arm in a punching motion.
(transitive) In dancing, to turn around in a small circle with one's partner, holding hands or arms.
"to swing one's partner", or simply "to swing"
(transitive) To admit or turn something for the purpose of shaping it; said of a lathe.
The lathe can swing a pulley of 12 inches diameter.
(transitive) To put (a door, gate, etc.) on hinges so that it can swing or turn.
To turn round by action of wind or tide when at anchor.
A ship swings with the tide.
To turn in a different direction.
Soon after departure, we cross the invisible border into Scotland to enjoy more stunning coastal scenery, before the line finally swings inland at Burnmouth to traverse pine-clad valleys, shadowed by the A1 trunk road until we rejoin the coast at Cove, east of Dunbar. 2022 November 30, Paul Bigland, “Destination Oban: a Sunday in Scotland”, in RAIL, number 971, page 75:
To be sexually oriented.
"The Jumping Place," the second play we did, was directed by the author, and the whole cast of seven was straight. We don't ask when somebody comes here how they swing, only that they commit themselves to the principles of the theatre. 1977 February 12, Don Shewey, John Glines, “Theatre Profiles Part II”, in Gay Community News, volume 4, number 33, page 9:
swing both ways
(transitive) To engage in sexual activity with a man (specifically, with his penis)
She couldn't wait to get out of the restaurant with him, so she could take him back to her place and swing on his dick all night.
cs ohnat se (boxing: to move one's arm in a punching motion) · es mecerse ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · bg скалъпя (to make something work) · fi hoitaa (to make something work) · ja 揺さぶる ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · ca gronxar-se (to ride on a swing) · nb disse (to ride on a swing) · es bambanear ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · es hamaquearse (to ride on a swing) · mk ви́си (to hang on gallows) · ru кача́ться ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fi heilua ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · ca girar (to fluctuate or change) · fr osciller (to fluctuate or change) · fi keinuttaa ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · de schaukeln (to ride on a swing) · mk се лу́ла (to ride on a swing) · sv gunga ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · hu leng ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · hy ճոճվել (to ride on a swing) · pt balançar ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fr balancer ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · cs kývat se ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · bg завъртам (dancing: to turn around in a small circle with one's partner) · ro oscila (to fluctuate or change) · nl schommelen (to fluctuate or change) · ca virar (to fluctuate or change) · fr swinguer (to dance) · tr sallamak ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · pl machnąć ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · bg скалъпвам (to make something work) · it altalenare (to ride on a swing) · es vaivenear ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · mk ни́ша ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · sk rozkývať (to make something work) · nb gynge (to ride on a swing) · vi đung đưa ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · ms buai ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · mk лу́ла ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · izh häilyä ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · nl swingen (to participate in swinging lifestyle) · nn huske (to ride on a swing) · ca balancejar ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · zza hêl kerden (to dance) · es bambolear ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · cs houpat se (to ride on a swing) · ty faʻaʻopaʻopa ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fr changer (to fluctuate or change) · bg люлея се ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · es hamaquear ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · it dondolare ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · ru кача́ться (to ride on a swing) · bg изменя се (to fluctuate or change) · is sveiflast ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · ro balansa ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fr se balancer (to ride on a swing) · bg завъртя (dancing: to turn around in a small circle with one's partner) · mi piu ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · cs zhoupnout se (to ride on a swing) · it oscillare ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fr se balancer ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · sv gunga (to ride on a swing) · it altalenare ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · cs rozmáchnout se (boxing: to move one's arm in a punching motion) · nl zwenken ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · es bambonear ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · mi tārere (to ride on a swing) · nl zwieren ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · sv svinga ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · fi roikkua (to hang on gallows) · izh horjua ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · bg изменям се (to fluctuate or change) · de schwingen ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · mi kōpiupiu ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · es hamacar ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · nl swingen (to dance) · de swingen (to participate in swinging lifestyle) · az yırğalanmaq ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · af swaai ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · pt andar de baloiço (to ride on a swing) · bg замахвам (boxing: to move one's arm in a punching motion) · fi kiertyä (cricket: of a ball, to move sideways in its trajectory) · vi đu ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · rup leagãn ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · hu himbálózik ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · ko 그네뛰다 (to ride on a swing) · ms berayun ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · pl zakołysać ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · fi heiluttaa ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · km យោល ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · sv svinga ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · es hamacarse (to ride on a swing) · it ondeggiare ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · es balancear ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · cs pohoupat se (to ride on a swing) · fr se permettre (to make something work) · ja 振れる ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · gl randear (to ride on a swing) · el κουνιέμαι ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · lb schaukelen (to ride on a swing) · es bambanear ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · fr modifier (to change a numerical result) · cmn 搖擺 /摇摆 ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · rar tārere ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · cmn 擺 /摆 ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · es bambalear ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · ar تَأَرْجَحَ ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · es desplazar (to change a numerical result) · ca oscil·lar ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · pl bachnąć ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · de baumeln (to hang on gallows) · is hanga (to hang on gallows) · ca engronsar ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · gl brandir ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · es columpiar ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · fr osciller ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · lt suptis (to ride on a swing) · pl huśtać się (to ride on a swing) · es mecerse (to ride on a swing) · fi keinua ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · gl randear ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fi heilahtaa (to fluctuate or change) · de schwanken ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fr altérer (to change a numerical result) · gl bambear ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fi muuttaa (to change a numerical result) · fi heilauttaa (boxing: to move one's arm in a punching motion) · uk гойда́тися (to ride on a swing) · ba бәүелеү ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · es bambonear ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · el κουνώ ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · es mecer ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · fi svengata (music: to produce a bouncy, uneven rhythm) · ro oscila ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fi lyödä kierre (cricket: to make the ball move sideways in its trajectory) · fr balancer ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · acw اتمرجح ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · bg клатя ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · hy ճոճել ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · es balancear ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · mk ни́ша ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · cmn 擺蕩 /摆荡 ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · bg вися (to hang on gallows) · eo balanci ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · ba һелтәү ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · gl tangonear ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · ro legăna ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · de schaukeln ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fi heilua (to hang on gallows) · bg замахна (boxing: to move one's arm in a punching motion) · eo svingomuzikumi (to dance) · ru раска́чиваться ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · es columpiarse (to ride on a swing) · fi jorata (to dance) · nl zwaaien ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · nl aan partnerruil doen (to participate in swinging lifestyle) · gl arfar ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · hu lóg (to hang on gallows) · nl schommelen (to ride on a swing) · es bambalear ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · hy ճոճվել ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fi pyöräyttää (dancing: to turn around in a small circle with one's partner) · cs kymácet ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · pl kołysać ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · cs houpat se ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · de schwingen (music: to produce a bouncy, uneven rhythm) · cmn 擺動 /摆动 ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · ba һелкенеү ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · is róla (sér) (to ride on a swing) · mi moari (to ride on a swing) · sk hojdať sa ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · mk се ни́ша (to ride on a swing) · nn gynge (to ride on a swing) · la oscillo ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fr pendre (to hang on gallows) · cs zhoupnout se ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · pl machać ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · nn disse (to ride on a swing) · scn annacari ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · es bambolear ((transitive) to move an object backward and forward) · bg клатя се ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · nb huske (to ride on a swing) · bg клатушкам се ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · fi keinua (to ride on a swing) · sk rozhýbať (to make something work) · mi piupiu ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · gl pendurar (to hang on gallows) · izh häylyä ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · hy ճոճորվել (to ride on a swing) · bg люлея се (to ride on a swing) · ja 揺れる ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point) · mi tārere ((''intransitive'') to rotate about an off-centre fixed point)