From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishswingswing1 /swɪŋ/ ●●● W3 verb (past tense and past participle swung /swʌŋ/) 1 move from a fixed point [intransitive, transitive]MOVE something OR somebodySIDE to make regular movements forwards and backwards or from one side to another while hanging from a particular point, or to make something do this Let your arms swing as you walk. a sign swinging in the wind He was swinging his bag back and forth. She swung her legs from side to side.swing something by something He marched around, swinging the gun by its handle.2 move in a curve [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition]TURNMOVE something OR somebody to move quickly in a smooth curve in one direction, or to make something do this A black car swung into the drive. Kate swung her legs out of bed.swing open/shut The heavy door swung shut. Swinging her bag over her shoulder, she hurried on.3 hit [intransitive, transitive] to move your arm or something you are holding to try and hit somethingswing something at somebody/something She swung her bag at him.swing at somebody/something (with something) Garson swung at the ball and missed. He started swinging at me with his fists.4 change opinions/emotions [intransitive, transitive]CHANGE YOUR MIND if emotions or opinions swing, or if something swings them, they change quickly to the opposite of what they wereswing from something to something His mood could swing from joy to despair. Do campaign gifts swing votes? The war had begun to swing in Britain’s favor.swing to the Right/Left (=in politics)5 → swing into action6 play [intransitive] to sit on a swing and make it move backwards and forwards by moving your legs 7 arrange something [transitive] spokenPERSUADE to arrange for something to happen, although it takes a lot of effort to do this We managed to swing it so that they will travel together.8 → swing both ways9 → swing the lead → there’s not enough room to swing a cat at room1(5) → swing around/round → swing by (something)→ See Verb table
seat with ropes [countable]DLO a seat hanging from ropes or chains, usually used by children to play on by moving it forwards and backwards using their legs kids playing on the swings a porch swing2 movement [countable]MOVE something OR somebody a curved movement made with your arm, leg etc He took a swing at (=tried to hit) my head and missed. the swing of her hips as she walked3 change [countable]CHANGE YOUR MIND a noticeable change in opinions or emotionsswing to/towards/between etc a big swing towards right-wing ideology She suffers from mood swings.4 sports [singular]DSG the movement you make when you hit the ball in golf, baseball, or some other sports I spent months correcting my swing.5 music [uncountable]APM a type of dance music played by a big band in the 1930s and 1940s that is similar to jazz 6 → get into the swing of it/things7 → be in full swing8 → go with a swing9 → swings and roundabouts
Examples from the Corpus
swing• Do you swing?• Bennett kicked a leg out, then swung a fist that didn't make contact.• I waited out at the end of the seaplane dock and swung aboard his sailboat as it drifted into the dock.• When the car started to swing around again, I made myself steer in the direction of the skid.• But as his hand grasped her arm, she recognised defeat, and, halting, she swung around.• A small jewelled cross swung from a gold chain around her neck.• A lantern swung from a hook in the roof.• His opinions would often swing from one extreme to the other.• The wooden bridge swung from side to side in a terrifying fashion.• The only sound was the creak of a sign swinging in the wind.• The car swung north towards the Arizona mountains.• Doors swung open and then shut as hospital porters pushed a patient down the corridor.• The door swung open slowly.• The door of a garden shed had swung open.• We began the workout by swinging our arms.• She swung the ax, hitting the log squarely in the middle.• The driver swung the Cadillac off the road with a squeal of tires.• As you swing the golf club back, try to keep your eye on the ball.• We used to have contests to see who could swing the highest.• Fortunately, the pendulum appears finally to be swinging the other way.• Instinctively he swung the wheel and the truck hit the car.• The speedometer needle swung wildly back and forth.• Daak was moving again now, swinging wildly from side to side in an attempt to avoid the lasers' targeting.swung ... from side to side• When you walked along it, it swung from side to side in a most terrifying fashion.• The harnesses that supported the two Chelonians swung from side to side, knocking them against the sides of the tank.• Now they're no longer swung from side to side.swing open/shut• The door of a garden shed had swung open.• The gates, their wood so heavy and toughened with age that it was like iron, swung shut.• There was a sensation of a hallucinogenic door being swung open.• It swung open and they staggered into the corridor, away from that scene of Hell in the office.• He did not bother to shut it, letting it swing open behind him.• It swung open easily into the vacuum, and he stepped out into the now silent centrifuge.• A small army of men toting machine guns stood at the gate, which slowly swung open in front of us.• It was precisely twelve midnight when the doors swung open to the emergency hall, and Hoppy carried his patient inside. swing at somebody/something (with something)• Both had ended in the humiliation of that brawl at a dance and me taking a swing at a hapless policeman.• Culley swung at him, coming up on his toes for the blow.• Danskin swung at him with the pistol, then shoved Converse aside in pursuit.• He slapped her on the side of the head and she took half a swing at him.• However, he has been swinging at pitches thrown by coaches.• Seemingly always perky, the young Jane would swing at the speed of light and win everything on offer.• The strike zone shall be determined from the batter's stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball.• Waterlilies swung at the edge of the river; willows rained down.swing to the Right/Left• It is possible, for instance, to see in California at this time the beginnings of a national swing to the right.• While pressure was maintained in front, other units swung to the right and left.swing it• Why, a bodyguard, of course, three if you can swing it.• But with a new-found strength she swung it as a feather, at the luckless Rubberneck.• He swung it at Spider but he ducked.• She unlatched the upper panel and swung it back to its hook on the wall.• As he swung it into Charing Cross Road he nearly collided with another car.• Hicks swung it open and they went carefully over an iron cattle grid and followed the trail downward.• I swung it over the fence.• I still have a lot to do, but if I can swing it this weekend, let's play tennis.• But as the barrel swung it would push a small piston that, in return, moved the hand lever. swingswing2 ●●○ noun 1 seat with ropes [countable]DLO a seat hanging from ropes or chains, usually used by children to play on by moving it forwards and backwards using their legs kids playing on the swings a porch swing2 movement [countable]MOVE something OR somebody a curved movement made with your arm, leg etc He took a swing at (=tried to hit) my head and missed. the swing of her hips as she walked3 change [countable]CHANGE YOUR MIND a noticeable change in opinions or emotionsswing to/towards/between etc a big swing towards right-wing ideology She suffers from mood swings.4 sports [singular]DSG the movement you make when you hit the ball in golf, baseball, or some other sports I spent months correcting my swing.5 music [uncountable]APM a type of dance music played by a big band in the 1930s and 1940s that is similar to jazz 6 → get into the swing of it/things7 → be in full swing8 → go with a swing9 → swings and roundaboutsExamples from the Corpus
swing• With a heavy swing of the mallet, he drove the post into the ground.• There has been a huge swing in public opinion on the issue.• Ed said he could help me with my swing.took a swing at• Apparently a customer took a swing at the salesman.mood swings• Only a few years, and Roth will have to cope with Big Mac's adolescent mood swings.• It gives you enormous mood swings, which nobody told me about.• Already, they have contributed to great national mood swings.• The picture is often one of violent and rapid mood swings in response to stress.• Blake was becoming tired of the stranger's mood swings.• When we suffer premenstrual symptoms, such as severe mood swings, our desire for sweet and starchy carbohydrates may surge.• They caused me to have terrible mood swings and it put my relationship with Stuart under a lot of strain.• Depression During adolescence, emotions are strong and teenagers often experience violent mood swings, including bouts of depression.From Longman Business Dictionaryswingswing1 /swɪŋ/ verb (past tense and past participle swung /swʌŋ/) [intransitive, transitive] to change from one level, rate, or position to another so that a situation is the opposite of what it was beforeIf the economy swings from recession into recovery, the banks’ problems will ease significantly.Prices swung over a wide range, dropping in early trading to $1,383 before recovering.→ See Verb tableswingswing2 noun [countable] a sudden and noticeable change in the level, rate, or position of somethingChanges in revenue could produce largeearnings swings.Investor uncertainty is likely to translate intoprice swings.Origin swing1 Old English swingan “to beat, go quickly” 