Phrase guide

swell up

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To become swollen

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

expand abnormally

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The bellies of the starving children are swelling

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: swell, intumesce, tumefy, tumesce

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: expand

Narrower terms: distend, belly, belly out, puff, puff up, blow up, puff out, bloat, blister, vesicate

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Cherokee: ᎪᏘᏍᎦ (gotisga) — to become bigger or swollen
  • Greek: πρήζομαι (prízomai) — to become bigger or swollen
  • Korean: 붓다 (butda) — to become bigger or swollen
  • Latin: turgescō — to become bigger or swollen
  • Māori: whakarawhaki — to become bigger or swollen
  • Russian: опуха́ть (opuxátʹ) — to become bigger or swollen
  • Russian: опу́хнуть (opúxnutʹ) — to become bigger or swollen
  • Spanish: hincharse — to become bigger or swollen
  • Spanish: aventarse — to become bigger or swollen