Meaning & use
swimming
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The activity or sport of moving through water by moving your arms and legs.
Grammar: Uncountable: no plural, and no 'a' before it. Say 'go swimming' or 'do swimming'.
Patterns
- go swimming
- do swimming
- swimming pool
- swimming lesson
Swimming is my favorite way to exercise.
We went swimming in the lake yesterday.
She takes swimming lessons every Saturday.
adjectivebefore a noun
Used before a noun to describe something related to swimming or filled with water for swimming.
Grammar: Always comes before a noun: swimming pool, swimming costume, swimming cap.
Patterns
- swimming pool
- swimming costume
- swimming cap
The hotel has a large swimming pool.
Don't forget your swimming costume.
He bought a new swimming cap for the competition.
Common combinations
- go swimming
- Let's go swimming this afternoon.
- swimming pool
- The children are playing in the swimming pool.
- swimming lesson
- I have a swimming lesson at 5 p.m.
- swimming competition
- She won a medal in the swimming competition.
Word family
- swim verb
- To move through water using your body.
- swimmer noun
- A person who swims, especially as a sport.
Practice
Which sentence is correct?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is 'go swimming' without 'to' or 'a'. 'Go swim' is not standard in this context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “swimming”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.