swam

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "swam" is correct and usable in written English.
It is the past tense of the verb "swim" and can be used to describe the action of moving through water in the past. Example: "Yesterday, I swam in the lake for several hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I read, swam and explored the little caves around the cove.

The Guardian - Travel

I swam towards the Italian ship but the waves were pushing me backwards whenever I got closer.

The Guardian

I was kicking to get back to the surface when it swam back and took a bite out of my ankle.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nevertheless, on reading those words, its mind swam with a plethora of images and, indeed, questions.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At sunset, we walked along the beach, keeping pace with a lone dolphin that swam lazily across the bay, until the sun had turned from gold to blood, and dipped behind the sharply silhouetted palms like a clichéd photo of the paradise it was.

The Guardian - Travel

(In Paris, they swam naked across the Seine, and later, when his company was stranded in London, she secretly paid for their return home; he, meanwhile, persuaded her to have a nose job).

The Guardian

"When the fire happened, I immediately jumped into the water … I swam for four to five hours.

The Guardian

He did well today and he's probably one of the only British athletes for years who swam and biked all the way with me and Jonny.

The Guardian - Sport

Both swam twice on the night, and each had about 30 minutes to recover between races.

The Guardian - Sport

He swam with a touch of the old anger that always used to fuel him, as if to say "you think I'm washed up?

The Guardian - Sport

Instead, they were raised from eggs in artificial hatcheries and released into the river several years ago whence they swam to the ocean along with their wild cousins, to feed, grow and, if they survived, to return to the river to spawn.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "swam", ensure the context clearly indicates the subject moved through water using swimming motions. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the location or manner of swimming if relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "swimmed" as the past tense of "swim". The correct past tense form is "swam".

Linguistic Context

The word "swam" functions as the simple past tense of the verb "swim". Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and usability in English. It describes a completed action of moving through water, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "swam" is the grammatically correct past tense of "swim", indicating a completed action of moving through water. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely usable in English across various contexts. Its frequency is 'very common', appearing predominantly in news, encyclopedias and scientific sources. While maintaining a neutral register adaptable to both casual and professional communications, using "swam" requires awareness of proper tense and context to ensure clarity and accuracy. Some semantically related alternatives are "paddled", "navigated the water" and "moved through the water".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

swam across

Emphasizes swimming from one side of a body of water to the other.

swam in

Emphasizes swimming within a specific body of water.

paddled

Implies a more gentle or recreational movement through water, often using hands or paddles.

swimming

The gerund form of "swim", focusing on the activity itself rather than a completed action.

navigated the water

Suggests a more deliberate and purposeful movement through water, possibly overcoming obstacles.

crossed by swimming

Emphasizes the act of reaching the other side of a body of water via swimming.

floated

Describes staying on the surface of the water without necessarily moving forward.

moved through the water

A general phrase describing motion in water, lacking the specificity of "swam".

went for a swim

Indicates the action of participating in swimming as a recreational activity.

did some swimming

Focuses on swimming as one of multiple activities.

FAQs

How to use "swam" in a sentence?

Use "swam" as the past tense of "swim" to describe the action of moving through water in the past. For example, "Yesterday, I "swam" in the lake for several hours".

What can I say instead of "swam"?

You can use alternatives like "paddled", "navigated the water", or "moved through the water" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "swam" or "swimmed"?

"Swam" is the correct past tense of "swim". "Swimmed" is not a standard English word.

What's the difference between "swam" and "swimming"?

"Swam" is the past tense, indicating a completed action. "Swimming" is the gerund or present participle, referring to the activity itself, either as a noun or part of a continuous tense.