Definition

1. Verb:

   • To increase in size or volume: To become larger, often due to internal pressure or absorption.
   • To become filled with an emotion: To experience a strong, rising feeling.
   • To rise or become more intense: To gradually increase in amount, level, or intensity.

2. Noun:

   • A slow, rolling wave of the sea: A long, unbroken wave that moves steadily without breaking.
   • A gradual increase in sound or music: A crescendo; a part of music that grows louder.
   • A rounded, elevated part: A gentle, bulging shape or area on a surface.
   • (Old-fashioned, informal) A fashionable or elegant person: A person who is stylishly dressed or socially prominent.

3. Adjective:

   • (Old-fashioned, informal) Excellent, stylish: Very good or fashionable.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:

  • Her ankle began to swell after the fall. (It increased in size due to injury.)
  • Pride swelled in his chest as he watched his daughter graduate. (He was filled with a strong emotion.)
  • The music swelled to a powerful climax. (The sound increased in volume and intensity.)

• Noun:

  • The boat rose and fell with the ocean swell. (It moved with the rolling waves.)
  • There was a sudden swell of support for the new policy. (A gradual increase in support.)
  • He was considered quite a swell in his youth. (He was seen as a fashionable man.)

• Adjective:

  • That's a swell idea! (That's an excellent idea.)
  • He threw a swell party last night. (He threw a very good party.)

Advanced Usage

• "to swell the ranks of": To increase the number of people in a group.
  • The economic crisis swelled the ranks of the unemployed.
• "a swell of emotion": A powerful, rising feeling.
  • She felt a swell of gratitude for their help.

Variants and Related Words

• Swollen (adj): The past participle often used as an adjective meaning enlarged or puffed up.
  • He had a swollen knee.
• Swell (n) as in "ground swell": A broad, deep wave or a surge of public opinion.
  • A ground swell of opposition forced the government to reconsider.

Synonyms

• Verb (increase): Expand, enlarge, inflate, rise.
• Noun (wave): Surge, billow, roller.
• Adjective (excellent): Great, superb, fantastic, splendid (old-fashioned).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Swell up: To become larger, especially due to injury or emotion.
  • Her eyes swelled up from crying.
• Swell out: To protrude or bulge outward.
  • The sails swelled out in the wind.

Related Idioms

• Swell with pride: To feel very proud and self-important.
  • She was swelling with pride after her promotion.
• Swell the coffers: To increase the amount of money in an organization's funds.
  • The new tax law is expected to swell the government's coffers.

Adjective

1. very good
   • he did a bully job
   • a neat sports car
   • had a great time at the party
   • you look simply smashing

Noun

1. a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance
2. a crescendo followed by a decrescendo
3. a rounded elevation (especially one on an ocean floor)
4. the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea

Verb

1. cause to become swollen
   • The water swells the wood
2. come up, as of a liquid
   • Tears well in her eyes
   • the currents well up
3. come up (as of feelings and thoughts, or other ephemeral things)
   • Strong emotions welled up
   • Smoke swelled from it
4. expand abnormally
   • The bellies of the starving children are swelling
5. become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger
   • The mother was swelling with importance when she spoke of her son
6. increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
   • The music swelled to a crescendo