Definition

1. Noun:

   • A back-and-forth or curving movement: The act or manner of moving freely from a fixed point or in a curve.
   • A seat suspended for swinging: A device or seat, often found on a playground, that moves back and forth while hanging from ropes or chains.
   • A sweeping stroke or attempt: A forceful, sweeping movement, especially one made to hit something, like in sports.
   • A style of jazz music: A style of jazz developed in the 1930s, characterized by a strong, propulsive rhythm and played by big bands.
   • A regular rhythm or momentum: A steady, vigorous rhythm or pace of activity.
   • A change in opinion or condition: A significant change or shift, especially in mood, opinion, or value.

2. Verb:

   • To move back and forth: To move smoothly and rhythmically forward and backward or from side to side while suspended or on an axis.
   • To move in a curve or arc: To turn or cause to turn on a central point, often with a sweeping motion.
   • To attempt to hit with a sweeping motion: To move one's arm or an object with a forceful, curving motion in an attempt to strike something.
   • To change direction or opinion: To change or cause to change direction, position, or opinion decisively.
   • To have a lively, rhythmic quality: To play or perform music with a strong, compelling rhythm, especially in jazz.
   • To hang freely: To be suspended so as to move freely.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The gentle swing of the hammock put me to sleep. (The back-and-forth movement)
  • The children played on the swing in the park. (The suspended seat)
  • He took a powerful swing at the baseball. (The sweeping stroke)
  • We danced to the music of the swing era. (The style of jazz)
  • The project is finally in full swing. (A state of active momentum)
  • Her mood swings are sometimes unpredictable. (Changes in condition)

• Verb:

  • The pendulum swings back and forth. (Moves rhythmically)
  • He swung the door open. (Moved it in an arc)
  • She swung the bat but missed the ball. (Attempted to hit)
  • The election was swung by a last-minute scandal. (Changed decisively)
  • A good jazz band really knows how to swing. (Play with a lively rhythm)
  • A lantern swung from the ceiling. (Hung freely)

Advanced Usage

• "In full swing": At the peak of activity or operation.
  • By midnight, the party was in full swing.
• "Get into the swing of things": To become accustomed to and involved in a new activity or routine.
  • It took her a week to get into the swing of her new job.
• "Swing for the fences": To try extremely hard to achieve something great, often taking a big risk. (From baseball, meaning to try to hit a home run.)
  • In this presentation, let's swing for the fences and impress the clients.

Variants and Related Words

• Swinging (adj/n): Lively, fashionable, or characterized by a free lifestyle (adj). The action of moving back and forth (n).
  • The 1960s are often described as a swinging decade.
• Swingy (adj, informal): Having a rhythm that makes you want to move.
  • It's a very swingy tune.

Synonyms

• Sway: To move slowly and rhythmically from side to side.
• Oscillate: To move or swing back and forth at a regular speed (more technical).
• Pivot: To turn or rotate on a central point.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Swing by (somewhere): To visit a place briefly, often without a formal plan.
  • I'll swing by your office after lunch.
• Swing around/round: To turn quickly to face a different direction.
  • He swung around when he heard his name called.

Related Idioms

• The swing of the pendulum: Used to describe a situation in which conditions or opinions change regularly from one extreme to another and back again.
  • In politics, we often see the swing of the pendulum from left to right.
• No room to swing a cat: A very small or cramped space.
  • The apartment is so tiny, there's no room to swing a cat.

Noun

1. a square dance figure; a pair of dancers join hands and dance around a point between them
2. in baseball; a batter's attempt to hit a pitched ball
   • he took a vicious cut at the ball
3. the act of swinging a golf club at a golf ball and (usually) hitting it
4. a jaunty rhythm in music
5. a style of jazz played by big bands popular in the 1930s; flowing rhythms but less complex than later styles of jazz
6. changing location by moving back and forth
7. a sweeping blow or stroke
   • he took a wild swing at my head
8. mechanical device used as a plaything to support someone swinging back and forth
9. a state of steady vigorous action that is characteristic of an activity
   • the party went with a swing
   • it took time to get into the swing of things

Verb

1. engage freely in promiscuous sex, often with the husband or wife of one's friends
   • There were many swinging couples in the 1960's
2. play with a subtle and intuitively felt sense of rhythm
3. be a social swinger; socialize a lot
4. have a certain musical rhythm
   • The music has to swing
5. live in a lively, modern, and relaxed style
   • The Woodstock generation attempted to swing freely
6. alternate dramatically between high and low values
   • his mood swings
   • the market is swinging up and down
7. hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement
   • The soccer player began to swing at the referee
8. hang freely
   • the ornaments dangled from the tree
   • The light dropped from the ceiling
9. make a big sweeping gesture or movement
10. influence decisively
    • This action swung many votes over to his side
11. change direction with a swinging motion; turn
    • swing back
    • swing forward
12. move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner
    • He swung back
13. move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
    • He swung his left fist
    • swing a bat