Swishing
/ˈswɪʃɪŋ/
verbnounB2present participle
Definition
Swishing is the sound or action of something moving fast and smoothly, often making a soft noise like "swish." It can describe things like clothes moving, water flowing, or a basketball passing through the net. It is an ongoing action or the sound itself.
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See It in Action
The sound made by something moving quickly and smoothly through air or water
- •The swishing of leaves in the wind was calming.
- •I heard the swishing of the basketball net after the shot.
- •The swishing sound of her skirt caught my attention.
The action of moving something quickly and smoothly
- •She was swishing her hair after the swim.
- •The dancer was swishing her dress as she moved across the stage.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "swishing" like "moving" (A1 word), but with a soft, smooth sound that you can hear when something passes quickly
- ✓Picture a basketball going through the net, making a soft, quick "swish" sound
- ✓It's the feeling of clothes brushing softly when you walk fast or spin around
- ✓Sounds like "swish" + "ing" → imagine the quick sound of a soft brush or water moving fast
- ✓Think of a magician's cape moving quickly or a sword moving through the air in stories, making a quiet, smooth sound
- ✓NOT like "crash" (loud, sudden noise), swishing is quiet and smooth
- ✓NOT like "buzz" (continuous, vibrating sound), swishing is a quick, passing sound
Try Other Words
- •Rustling: soft sound of leaves or paper moving (Use when the sound is caused by dry things like leaves, paper)
- •Whooshing: fast moving air or water sound (Use when the movement is faster or louder than swishing)
- •Flapping: moving up and down quickly (Use when something moves with a repeated motion, like wings or flags)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root "swish" + suffix "-ing" (shows ongoing action or sound)
- •Etymology: "Swish" comes from imitating the soft, smooth sound of something moving quickly
- •Historical development: The word "swish" has been used since the early 1600s to describe soft, smooth sounds; "swishing" is the action form used in modern English
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe sounds in nature, sports, fashion, and actions involving smooth, fast movement
Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of things in your daily life make a swishing sound or movement?
•How does the sound of swishing affect the mood or feeling in a story or movie?
Fill in the blanks
1.The swishing sound of the curtains ___ in the wind made the room feel peaceful.
2.When she was swishing her dress, it showed how ___ she was moving.
3.Unlike a loud bang, swishing is a ___ and smooth noise.
4.The basketball went through the net with a perfect ___ sound.
5.He was swishing his coat quickly to ___ off the dust.
6.The swishing of the water ___ the boat gently as it moved.
7.You can tell someone is walking fast when you hear the swishing of their ___ against the floor.