swish
swish Lexical Profile
swish Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A light sweeping, rustling, or hissing sound made by an object moving quickly through the air or brushing against a surface.
"With a quick swish of her silk skirt, she turned and walked out onto the terrace."
North American In basketball, a successful shot that passes cleanly through the net without touching the rim or backboard.
"Her three-pointer at the buzzer went in with a clean swish to win the championship game."
• verb
To move or cause to move with a soft, hissing, or rustling sound.
"The horse swished its tail back and forth to keep the summer flies away."
To move a liquid around in a container or inside one's mouth with a gentle sloshing sound.
"The dentist instructed the patient to swish the rinse around for thirty seconds before spitting it out."
North American To make a basketball shot that goes cleanly through the net without touching the rim or backboard.
"The point guard stepped back behind the arc and swished a crucial three-pointer."
• adjective
British Impressively smart, fashionable, or luxurious in appearance.
"They celebrated their anniversary at a swish restaurant overlooking the river."
• Rhymes for swish
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the mid-18th century, the word is of imitative origin, coined to mimic the soft, hissing sound of an object cutting swiftly through the air or brushing against a surface.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.