swimmingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "swimmingly" is a correct word in written English.
It can be used when referring to a situation or activity that is going exceptionally well. For example: "Our team meeting went swimmingly; I was really impressed with the outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Labour's emphasis on low pay, bad jobs, high rents and ends that never meet clashes with George Osborne's glowing assurances that everything is going swimmingly.

The Guardian - Opinion

As the scale of their exposure was revealed they switched tack to argue that they had a liquidity, rather than a solvency, problem.In this section Going swimmingly The source of denial Where's the growth?

The Economist

Its six Democratic and six Republican members, drawn equally from the Senate and House of Representatives, by most accounts got along swimmingly, at various times watching football, cycling, singing "Happy Birthday" and eating beef jerky together.Conflicting explanations for the failure of the committee, which met in private, have emerged, but the main stumbling block, as usual, was taxes.

The Economist

Between 1994 and 1997, it launched commercial television channels in seven East European countries, teaming up with local licence-holders in each.Initially, all went swimmingly.

The Economist

See, I've been following the whole Colin Powell phenomenon, and it's led me to an indisputable conclusion: The first Jew to be elected President of the United States will be a four-star general.The punchline was that the highest-ranking chosen person in the armed services was comptroller of the Coast Guard.Nonetheless, Mr Franken and Mr Specter will probably get along swimmingly.

The Economist

Microloans, which command higher yields to reflect greater risk, had a 14% net interest margin.In this section Going swimmingly The source of denial Where's the growth?

The Economist

While the teaching of English to immigrants is not going too well, the teaching of Spanish to natives is going swimmingly.

The Economist

He reckons that "vengeance" against the previous leader would be counterproductive.Not all is going swimmingly.

The Economist

In fact, things are going pretty swimmingly across the strait, which is one big thing we don't have to worry about.

The Economist

The fossils in those rocks suggest that things had been going along swimmingly.

The Economist

Rival though it is, an Iridium launch that went absolutely swimmingly would do ICO no harm at all.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "swimmingly" to emphasize not just success, but the ease and lack of problems involved in achieving that success.

Common error

While "swimmingly" is widely accepted, avoid using it excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "smoothly" or "successfully" in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "swimmingly" modifies verbs, adverbs, or clauses to describe the manner in which an action is performed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It indicates that something is happening easily and successfully, as demonstrated in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "swimmingly" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term to describe something progressing with ease and success. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and its widespread presence in news and media, but suggests caution in overly formal contexts. Related phrases like "smoothly" and "successfully" offer suitable alternatives, while understanding common usage errors—such as overuse in formal writing—can help refine your writing. Keep in mind that while "swimmingly" is generally neutral, its slight informality means it's best suited for scenarios where a tone of easy success is desired. The phrase is clearly a common way to illustrate situations that are proceeding very well.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smoothly

Indicates ease and lack of problems, similar to "swimmingly" but more general.

with ease

Similar to effortlessly, stressing the lack of difficulty.

without a hitch

Emphasizes the complete absence of problems during a process.

successfully

Focuses on achieving a positive outcome, whereas "swimmingly" highlights the ease of the process.

effortlessly

Highlights the lack of effort required for something to proceed well.

with flying colors

Suggests not only success but also excellence, adding a dimension of superior achievement.

like clockwork

Implies a predictable and reliable process, functioning perfectly.

favorable manner

A more formal way of saying something goes well, but lacks the specific connotation of ease.

agreeably

Focuses on the pleasantness of the process, not just its success.

in an ideal way

This phrase emphasizes that events unfolded in the best possible way.

FAQs

How can I use "swimmingly" in a sentence?

You can use "swimmingly" to describe something that is going very well and without difficulty. For example, "The project is progressing "swimmingly", exceeding all expectations".

What are some alternatives to "swimmingly"?

Alternatives include "smoothly", "successfully", or "effortlessly", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is "swimmingly" appropriate for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "swimmingly" might be considered too informal for some formal contexts. Consider using "successfully" or "smoothly" instead.

What does it mean when something is going "swimmingly"?

It means the process or activity is progressing very well, easily, and successfully, without significant problems or setbacks.