Meaning of swell In English

• 0 to become larger and rounder than usual; to (cause to) increase in size or amount:

  • It was obvious she had broken her toe, because it immediately started to swell (up).

  • The group recruited more members, swelling its ranks (= increasing its size) to more than 1.3 million.

  • literary His heart/breast swelled with pride (= he felt very proud) as he stood watching his son graduate.

• 1 the slow up and down movement of the sea with large but smooth waves

• 2 an increase in sound produced by a musical instrument or instruments

• 3 a rich, fashionable person:

  • They were mostly working-class guys trying to be comfortable among the swells.

  • She had seen her neighbourhood change from an empty corner to a destination for city swells.

• 4 very good or pleasant:

  • That's a swell idea!

• 5 very well:

  • Everything's going swell.

• 6 to become larger and rounder:

  • [ I ] It’s spring, and the buds on the trees are beginning to swell.

  • [ I ] One of his eyes swelled shut.

  • [ T ] Immigrants swelled the city’s population (= increased it).

  • [ I ] fig. His chest swelled with pride at being chosen (= He felt extremely proud).

• 7 the slow up and down movement of a long, smooth wave or series of waves in the sea:

  • ocean swells

• 8 excellent; very good:

  • The food was good and the service was swell.