Irregular verb
The verb to swell
swell → swelled → swollen
B2Meaning: to become bigger and rounder; to grow in number · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they swell·he/she/it swells - Past Simple:
swelled(regular) - Past participle:
swollen(irregular, -en) orswelled - -ing form:
swelling
Conjugation of the verb to swell
Present Simple
| I | swell |
| You | swell |
| He / She / It | swells |
| We | swell |
| You (pl.) | swell |
| They | swell |
Past Simple
| I | swelled |
| You | swelled |
| He / She / It | swelled |
| We | swelled |
| You (pl.) | swelled |
| They | swelled |
All the forms of the verb to swell
Present Simple
Full pageswell / swells
“My ankle swells when I run.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are swelling
“I am swelling up in the heat right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageswelled
“My foot swelled overnight.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were swelling
“I was swelling up in the heat when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has swollen
“I have already swollen up in the heat.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad swollen
“She had already swollen up in the heat when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill swell
“I will swell up in the heat tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to swell
“I'm going to swell up in the heat this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould swell
“I would swell up in the heat if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to swell
1. Swelling (the body)
- My ankle swelled up.
- Her face is swollen.
2. Growing bigger (rivers, crowds)
For rivers, crowds and feelings: to grow bigger, or to increase.
- The river swelled after the storm.
- The crowd swelled to thousands.
3. Swell with pride
Swell with pride means to feel very proud.
- He swelled with pride.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. A swelling (noun)
A swelling is a part of the body that has become bigger, often after an injury. It is a medical word. Don't confuse it with the -ing form of the verb: Her ankle is swelling (it is getting bigger now).
2. Swell: an old American word
As an adjective, swell means great (American English from the 1950s). Today, people say awesome or great. That's swell! sounds old-fashioned.
What's next?
You can conjugate to swell. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of swell?+
The Past Simple of swell is swelled (regular). The past participle is swollen (irregular, with -en) or swelled (regular, also correct). Swollen is very common as an adjective. Swell → swelled → swollen/swelled.
Is it swollen or swelled?+
Swollen is the usual past participle, and it is very common as an adjective: My ankle is swollen. Swelled is also possible as a past participle, but it is less common. It is a bit like show → showed → shown: two participles exist.
What are swollen glands?+
Swollen glands are small parts of the body, often in your neck, that become bigger when you are ill (a cold, an infection). It is a common medical sign. You can also have swollen feet or swollen eyes.
What does swell mean as a noun?+
A swell (noun) means (1) the movement of big waves in the sea: a heavy swell. (2) a slow rise, like a sound that grows: the swell of the music. For a part of the body that becomes bigger, say a swelling. As an old American adjective, swell means great: That's swell! sounds like the 1950s.
What does swell with pride mean?+
Swell with pride means to feel very proud. The image is physical: your chest gets bigger because you are so happy. His chest swelled with pride.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/swell
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.