Swelled Swell Swel Swollen Increase Past Verb Bre

• her arm was beginning to swell up where the bee had stung her.
• bacteria can cause gums to swell and bleed.
• cook the lentils for 20 minutes until they swell and soften.
• the sails swelled (out) in the wind.

swell

1. to become bigger or rounder
• Her arm was beginning to swell up where the bee had stung her.
• Bacteria can cause gums to swell and bleed.
• Cook the lentils for 20 minutes until they swell and soften.
2. to curve out or make something curve out
• The sails swelled (out) in the wind.
• The wind swelled (out) the sails.
3. to increase or make something increase in number or size
• opposite shrink
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/shrink_1
• Last year's profits were swelled by a fall in production costs.
• Crowds of commuters were swelled by Christmas shoppers.
• We are looking for more volunteers to swell the ranks (= increase the number) of those already helping.
• Membership has swelled to over 20 000.
4. to become louder
• The cheering swelled through the hall.
5. to be filled with a strong emotion
• to swell with pride
• Her heart swelled as she turned to face him.

Extra Examples

• Her feet swelled up after the long walk to the top of the hill.
• Her legs had swollen with the heat.
• His right eye had almost swollen shut.
• His sprained ankle had swollen badly.
• My fingers and thumbs swelled to grotesque proportions.
• His belly swelled out over his belt.
• If the rain continues the river could swell and burst its banks.
• The rain was so fierce that it swelled the river until it burst its banks.
• The wind swelled the sails.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they swell
• he / she / it swells
• past simple swelled
• past participle swelled
• past participle swollen
• -ing form swelling

Word Origin

• Old English swellan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to German schwellen. Current senses of the noun date from the early 16th cent.; the informal adjectival use derives from noun sense (5) (late 18th cent.).