Standard Lemma guide

swish

adj · intj · noun · verb · 23 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /swɪʃ/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪʃ
  • CMU ARPABET: S W IH1 SH Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

sophisticated; fashionable; smooth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, colloquial

Examples

  • This restaurant looks very swish — it even has linen tablecloths.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Attractive, stylish

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Effeminate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

intj

Meaning 4

A hissing or whistling sound of something travelling quickly through the air.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: onomatopoeic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

intj

Meaning 5

The sound of a basketball going in the hoop.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: onomatopoeic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A hissing, sweeping movement through the air, as of an animal's tail.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

A sound of liquid flowing, especially inside a container.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

A twig or bundle of twigs, used for administering beatings; a switch

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

A successful basketball shot that does not touch the rim or backboard.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: ball-games, basketball, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

A rapid or careless attacking stroke by the batter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: ball-games, cricket, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

An effeminate male homosexual.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, slang, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

noun

Meaning 13

Effeminacy, effeminate or homosexual demeanor.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, uncountable

Examples

  • He got a little swish downriver.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

noun

Meaning 14

An improvised alcoholic drink made by fermenting whatever ingredients are available.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Canada, slang, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

verb

Meaning 15

To make a rustling sound while moving.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The cane swishes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

verb

Meaning 16

To flourish with a swishing sound.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • to swish a cane back and forth

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

17

verb

Meaning 17

To flog; to lash.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, slang, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

18

verb

Meaning 18

To make a successful basketball shot that does not touch the rim or backboard.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: ball-games, basketball, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

19

verb

Meaning 19

To mince or otherwise to behave in an effeminate manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

Topics: LGBT

Examples

  • I shall not swish; I'll merely act limp-wristed.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

20

verb

Meaning 20

To cause a liquid to move around in a container, or in one's mouth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Swish the mouthwash around the mouth and between the teeth for one minute.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

21

adjective satellite

Meaning 21

elegant and fashionable- Julia Child

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • classy clothes
  • a classy dame
  • a posh restaurant
  • a swish pastry shop on the Rue du Bac

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: classy, posh

Antonyms: none provided

22

noun

Meaning 22

a brushing or rustling sound

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sound

23

verb

Meaning 23

move with or cause to move with a whistling or hissing sound

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The bubbles swoshed around in the glass
  • The curtain swooshed open

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lap, swosh, swoosh

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sound, go

History

Etymology

From noun, imitative of the sound

Across languages

Translations

41 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: елегантен (eleganten) — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • Bulgarian: шик (šik) — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • Czech: elegantní — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • Czech: šik — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • French: chic — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • French: doux — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • French: en vogue — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • French: lisse — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • Polish: szykowny — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • Polish: elegancki — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • Polish: luksusowy — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • Russian: шика́рный (šikárnyj) — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • Spanish: sofisticado, refinado — sophisticated; fashionable; smooth
  • Portuguese: xuá — successful basketball shot that does not touch the rim or backboard
  • Bulgarian: свистя (svistja) — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Czech: svištět — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Czech: zasvištět — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Finnish: viuhua — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Finnish: kahista — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • French: bruisser — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Latvian: žvīkstēt — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Māori: huhū — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Māori: wara — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Māori: wawara — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Polish: szeleścić — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Polish: świszczeć — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Polish: piszczeć — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Swedish: svischa — to make a rustling sound while moving
  • Bulgarian: размахвам (razmahvam) — to flourish with a swishing sound
  • Czech: švihat — to flourish with a swishing sound
  • Finnish: viuhtoa — to flourish with a swishing sound
  • Finnish: viuhuttaa — to flourish with a swishing sound
  • Polish: świstać — to flourish with a swishing sound
  • Swedish: svischa — to flourish with a swishing sound
  • Bulgarian: бия (bija) — to flog; to lash
  • Czech: mrskat — to flog; to lash
  • Czech: švihat — to flog; to lash
  • Finnish: piiskata — to flog; to lash
  • Polish: świstać — to flog; to lash
  • Finnish: neiteillä — to behave in an effeminate manner
  • Polish: zachowywać się zniewieściale — to behave in an effeminate manner