swell
gb/swˈɛl/ us/swˈɛl/
B1
English
~ 5000
dagad, feldagad, megduzzad, hullámzás, holt hullámzás, klassz, pompás, remek, eltölt, dagad a melle a büszkeségtől, megtelik
VERB
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[something] swells
Her ankle began to swell after she twisted it.
A bokája dagadni kezdett, miután megrándította.
The river swelled after the heavy rain.
A heves esőzés után megduzzadt a folyó.
His chest swelled with pride when he heard the news.
The balloon swelled as air was pumped into it.
Learner examples
My hand swelled after the bee sting.
Feldagadt a kezem a méhcsípés után.
The bread swells when it bakes.
A kenyér sütés közben megdagad.
His eyes swelled from crying.
The sponge swells when it gets wet.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'swell' with 'swing' or 'swirl' due to similar sounds, but 'swell' means to grow bigger.
Meaning
Increase in size or volume
Collocations
swell up
|swell with pride
|swell in size
|swell considerably
Synonyms
expand (Neutral term for becoming larger, often in a spatial or abstract sense.)
|
enlarge (Focuses on making something larger, often by intent.)
Antonyms
shrink (Opposite process of becoming smaller in size.)
Themes
nature
|health
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|science
Definition
To get bigger or rounder, usually slowly.
To expand or become larger in size, volume, or amount, often gradually.
NOUN
B2
2
hullámzás
B1
A heavy swell made the boat rock violently.
Az erős hullámzás vadul ringatta a hajót.
Surfers waited for the next big swell.
A szörfösök a következő nagy hullámzásra vártak.
The ship slowed down as it entered a strong swell.
Learner examples
The boat moved up and down in the swell.
A hajó fel-le mozgott a hullámzásban.
Surfers like a big swell.
A szörfösök szeretik a nagy hullámzást.
There is a strong swell today.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'swell' with 'surf'; 'surf' is waves breaking near shore, 'swell' is the rolling movement before that.
Meaning
Long wave on the sea surface
Collocations
ocean swell
|large swell
|heavy swell
|rising swell
Synonyms
wave (General term; less specific than 'swell' which refers to long, rolling waves.)
Themes
nature
|travel
Definition
A big, smooth wave in the sea made by wind far away.
A long, smooth wave on the surface of the sea, usually caused by distant wind or storms.
B2
INFORMAL
3
We had a swell time at the party.
Klasszul éreztük magunkat a bulin.
He's a swell guy to work with.
Klassz ember, jó vele dolgozni.
That was a swell idea you had.
Learner examples
This is a swell place to eat.
Ez egy klassz hely, ha enni akar az ember.
I had a swell day with my family.
Klassz napom volt a családommal.
She is a swell friend.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use 'swell' as modern slang; it's mostly used in old movies or humor now.
Meaning
Excellent or enjoyable (old-fashioned slang)
Collocations
swell time
|swell guy
Synonyms
great (Modern equivalent; more widely used today.)
|
fantastic (Stronger positive connotation; modern usage.)
Antonyms
terrible (Strongly negative quality, opposite of 'excellent'.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Very good or great; old-fashioned slang.
Very good, excellent, or enjoyable; dated slang still used humorously or nostalgically.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
[someone] swells with [emotion]
He swelled with pride when his son won the award.
Dagadt a melle a büszkeségtől, amikor a fia megnyerte a díjat.
Her heart swelled with joy at the surprise.
A meglepetéstől megtelt a szíve örömmel.
They swelled with anger at the unfair decision.
Learner examples
I swelled with pride when I got the job.
Büszkeség töltött el, amikor megkaptam az állást.
Her heart swelled with love.
Megtelt a szíve szeretettel.
He swelled with anger at the news.
Meaning
Become full of strong emotion
Collocations
swell with pride
|swell with anger
Synonyms
overflow (Focuses on the intensity of feeling spilling over.)
Themes
emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To feel a strong emotion that seems to grow inside you.
To become filled with a strong feeling such as pride, anger, or happiness, often shown physically.
Grammar
Dictionary form
swell
IPA
GB/swˈɛl/
US/swˈɛl/
Syllables & stress
swell (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (swell)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: swell
Noun
- Base: swell
- Plural: swells
Verb
- Base: swell
- 3rd Person Singular: swells
- Present Participle: swelling
- Past: swelled
- Past Participle: swelled, swollen
Word family
Forms
Expressions
a swell time
1/ə swˈɛl tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
informal
A very enjoyable time
A great and fun time (old-fashioned slang).
Examples
- We had a swell time at the beach.
- It was a swell time for everyone at the reunion.
swell up
1/swˈɛl ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Become larger from injury or fluid
To get bigger because of injury or too much liquid inside.
Examples
- Her knee swelled up after the fall.
- My fingers swell up in hot weather.
swell with pride
1/swˈɛl wˈɪθ pɹˈaɪd/
idiom
Become full of pride
To feel very proud and show it.
Examples
- She swelled with pride as her daughter graduated.
- He swelled with pride at his team's success.