Meaning of the word swell in English

What does swell mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

swell

US /swel/
UK /swel/
"swell" picture

Verb

to become larger and rounder than usual; to increase in size or amount

Example:
His ankle started to swell after the fall.
The crowd swelled to thousands by noon.

Noun

a slow, regular movement of the sea in long waves that do not break

Example:
The boat rocked gently on the ocean swell.
Surfers were waiting for a big swell to arrive.

Adjective

(old-fashioned) very good; excellent

Example:
We had a swell time at the party.
That's a swell idea!