swamp
gb/swˈɑmp/ us/swˈɑmp/
A2
English
~ 5000
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Overload or overwhelm someone
To give too much work or too many problems to someone so they cannot cope.
Usage pattern:
to swamp [someone] with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'swamp' with 'swap' due to similar spelling, but they have very different meanings.
Synonyms
overwhelm (More general and common; can refer to emotions, numbers, or work.)
Antonyms
relieve (Means to make a burden lighter, the opposite of overwhelming.)
Collocations
swamp with work
|swamp with emails
|completely swamped
Themes
work
|emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The customer service team was swamped with calls after the product recall.
- I'm completely swamped this week and can't take on any more projects.
- The small shop was swamped by orders during the holiday season.
Learner examples
- I am swamped with homework.
- She was swamped with emails.
- We were swamped by many visitors.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Wetland area with standing water
A piece of land that is always wet and often has water and plants.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'swamp' with 'marsh'. While both are wetlands, a swamp usually has more trees.
Synonyms
wetland (A broader term that includes swamps, marshes, and bogs.)
Antonyms
desert (A dry, barren area with very little water, opposite of a swamp.)
Collocations
tropical swamp
|swamp area
|swamp vegetation
Themes
nature
|geography
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Alligators are common in the Florida swamps.
- The expedition got lost in a dense swamp.
- The swamp is home to many bird species.
Learner examples
- There are many fish in the swamp.
- We saw a snake in the swamp.
- The swamp is full of water.
Verb
B1
action
3
Flood or submerge an area
To fill or cover land with lots of water.
Usage pattern:
to swamp [an area]
Common mistake:
Some learners mistakenly use 'swamp' for any kind of mess; this meaning is only for water covering land or objects.
Synonyms
flood (More general term for covering an area with water.)
Antonyms
drain (To remove water from an area, opposite of flooding.)
Collocations
swamped by floodwaters
|swamp the land
|river swamped the fields
Themes
nature
|disasters
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Heavy rains swamped the coastal towns.
- The boat was swamped by waves during the storm.
- The river overflowed and swamped the farmland.
Learner examples
- Rain swamped the small village.
- Waves swamped the boat.
- The river swamped the fields.
Grammar
Dictionary form
swamp
IPA
GB/swˈɑmp/
US/swˈɑmp/
Syllables & stress
swamp (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (swamp)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: swamp
- Plural: swamp, swamps
Verb
- Base: swamp
- 3rd Person Singular: swamps
- Present Participle: swamping
- Past: swamped
Word family
Forms
swamps
noun
swamping
verb
swamped
verb
Core family
swampy
adjective
Related words
swampland
noun
Expressions
be swamped with
1/bˈi swˈɑmpt wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
Have too much to deal with
To have more work or more things to do than you can manage.
Examples
- I'm swamped with assignments right now.
- She's been swamped with phone calls all morning.
swamp out
1/swˈɑmp ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Clean by removing water/dirt
To clean a place by taking out all the water or dirt.
Examples
- We need to swamp out the basement after the flood.
- They spent hours swamping out the boat.
drain the swamp
1/dɹˈeɪn ðə swˈɑmp/
idiom
informal
remove corruption or bad elements
To try to clear an organization or system of corrupt, dishonest, or harmful people and practices.
Examples
- The new mayor promised to drain the swamp at city hall.
- He ran for office on a pledge to drain the swamp.
- He ran for office on a pledge to drain the swamp of political corruption.
- Many voters liked his message about draining the swamp in Washington.