Swell (Verb)

Meaning ¹

Come up, as of a liquid; "Tears well in her eyes"; "the currents well up".

Classification

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.

Synonyms

• Well

Hypernyms

• Rise
• Surface
• Rise Up

Meaning ²

Expand abnormally; "The bellies of the starving children are swelling".

Classification

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..

Synonyms

• Intumesce
• Tumesce
• Tumefy
• Swell Up

Hyponyms

• Belly Out
• Puff Up
• Vesicate
• Blow Up
• Puff Out

Related Words

• Swelling (noun)

Meaning ³

Become filled with pride, arrogance, or anger; "The mother was swelling with importance when she spoke of her son".

Classification

Verbs of political and social activities and events.

Synonyms

• Puff Up

Hypernyms

• Do
• Behave

Meaning ⁴

Come up (as of feelings and thoughts, or other ephemeral things); "Strong emotions welled up"; "Smoke swelled from it".

Classification

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.

Synonyms

• Well Up

Hypernyms

• Rise
• Grow
• Originate
• Spring Up
• Develop
• Uprise

Meaning ⁵

Cause to become swollen; "The water swells the wood".

Classification

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..

Hyponyms

• Bulk

Meaning ⁶

Increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity; "The music swelled to a crescendo".

Classification

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..

Examples

• The applause swelled as the singer took her final bow.
• The storm surge swelled, overflowing the seawall and flooding the coastal town.
• Her anger swelled at the news of the betrayal.
• The orchestra swelled to a dramatic climax as the hero's theme was played.
• The crowd swelled into a sea of cheering faces as the band took the stage.