swimming

swimming — adjective

1. able to move through water by using body parts such as fins, legs, or wings — us

1.形容詞A2
釋義

able to move through water by using body parts such as fins, legs, or wings — used before a noun to describe animals, insects, or birds that swim.

例句

Ari watched the swimming duck glide across the pond with her ducklings.

swimming + noun (swimming duck) — attributive for animals

Swimming insects like water beetles use their legs to push across the surface.

swimming insects — describing a type of creature

同義詞
  • aquatic

    more scientific or formal register; used for plants and animals that live in water, not just swim (e.g. aquatic plants)

  • water-dwelling

    describes where an animal lives, not its movement; broader in meaning

反義詞
  • non-swimming

    rarely used; more common to just say 'land animals' or 'flightless birds'

文法句型

swimming + noun (animal or creature)

用法筆記

Attributive only — this sense of 'swimming' appears before a noun naming an animal or creature. It is not used predicatively ('the duck is swimming' uses the verb, not the adjective).

常見錯誤

❌The swimming duck is a duck that is swimming.
✅The swimming duck is a duck that swims.
💡The adjective describes a habitual ability, not necessarily an action at this moment.

2. designed or intended to be worn, used, or involved when a person moves through w

2.形容詞A2
釋義

designed or intended to be worn, used, or involved when a person moves through water as a leisure activity or sport.

例句

Caleb forgot his swimming trunks and had to borrow a dry pair from the shop.

swimming trunks — clothing item for swimming

The hotel's swimming pool is heated during the winter for guests to enjoy.

swimming pool — common compound for the facility

同義詞
  • bathing

    used in British English in compounds like 'bathing suit' or 'bathing cap'; slightly old-fashioned in everyday speech

文法句型

swimming + noun (equipment, location, clothing, lesson)

用法筆記

This adjective always appears before a noun — it is not used after a linking verb. Common nouns that follow include items of clothing (costume, trunks, cap), locations (pool, beach), and lessons or training (lessons, class, coach). In British English 'swimming costume' is common; in American English 'swimsuit' or 'bathing suit' is preferred.

常見錯誤

❌I went to the swimming.
✅I went to the swimming pool.
💡The adjective 'swimming' must be followed by a noun; it cannot stand alone to mean the place.
❌She bought a swim costume.
✅She bought a swimming costume.
💡The full compound is 'swimming costume', not 'swim costume' (though 'swimsuit' is a single word).

swimming — noun