swimmer

noun

swim·​mer ˈswi-mər How to pronounce swimmer (audio)
plural swimmers
: a person or animal that swims
a competitive swimmer
a fast/strong swimmer
… he liked to tell us that he had been a powerful swimmer in his youth, but I never saw him in actual water save once, and he then came out very promptly, shivering and upset.—H. L. Mencken
a dog that is an excellent swimmer

Examples of swimmer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These pools turned an unused space into a playground for swimmers, divers, water polo enthusiasts, and boaters, especially on hot summer days. — Laura Hall, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026 The weather service warned that dangerous currents can pull even experienced swimmers away from shore and into deeper water. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 This water-absorbing ability may help prevent water from accumulating on the delicate eardrum and fend off infections such as swimmer’s ear. — David Hu, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 2026 In darkness 140 miles off Baja, 24-year-old Coast Guard rescue swimmer Josh Law battled 6- to 8-foot waves for two hours to pull 16 people from the ocean. — Jaimie Ding, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swimmer

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of swimmer was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing swimmer

Rhymes for swimmer

See All Rhymes for swimmer

Browse Nearby Words

swim meet
swimmer
swimmer's ear
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swimmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swimmer. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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