swimming

Everyday

1. The sport or activity of moving through water using your arms and legs. tree →
2. Moving through water right now (the -ing form of swim): «The ducks are swimming». tree →
3. Used before a noun for things meant for swimming: a swimming pool, a swimming costume. tree →
4. Of the head or eyes: feeling dizzy or full of tears (less common: «my head is swimming»). tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and safety: swimming lessons, swimming pools, beach and river safety (swim between the flags, never swim alone, an adult watching). In PE it is a sport with strokes like front crawl, breaststroke and backstroke. In science: fish and many animals are swimming creatures. Phrases: go swimming, swimming pool, swimming costume (UK), swimsuit or bathing suit (US), swimming trunks, swimming lessons, swimming club.

Examples

• I go swimming every Saturday morning. tree →
• Swimming is good exercise for the heart. tree →
• We had a swimming lesson at the leisure centre. tree →
• The fish were swimming round and round the tank. tree →
• Only go swimming when a lifeguard or adult is watching. tree →
• Don't forget your swimming goggles. tree →
• In Australia many children learn swimming at school. tree →
• The pool is closed for swimming after dark. tree →
• My head was swimming after the spinning ride. tree →
• Pinocchio went on swimming close to shore. tree →

Note

Double m: swim → swimming, swimmer. Past: swam (I swam yesterday); past participle: swum (I have swum a mile). Do not write «swiming» or «swimed». «Swimming» as a sport is uncountable: no «a swimming». Safety myth: waiting an hour after eating is not a strict rule, but never swim alone or in unknown water. In maths problems it often comes with laps or lengths: 4 lengths of a 25 m pool = 100 m.