swollen

swollen — verb

1. the form of the verb 'swell' that goes together with helping verbs such as 'has'

1.verb
Definition

the form of the verb 'swell' that goes together with helping verbs such as 'has', 'had', and 'was' to show that something became larger at an earlier time

Example

The river has swollen to twice its normal width after the storm.

present perfect: has + swollen

The bruise on Samir's arm had swollen to the size of an egg by morning.

past perfect: had + swollen

Grammar Patterns

have + swollen

be + swollen

had + swollen

Usage Note

The simple past tense of 'swell' is 'swelled', not 'swollen'. Use 'swelled' when a time is specified without a helping verb: 'His ankle swelled up last night.'

Common Mistakes

My ankle swollened after the long walk.
My ankle swelled after the long walk.
The past tense of 'swell' is 'swelled', not 'swollened'.
Phrasal verbs

swell up

phrasal verb

to become larger or rounder, especially a part of the body because of an injury, infection, or fluid buildup

Mauricio's finger swelled up badly after he was stung by a bee.

swollen — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Swollen' is the most common everyday word for a body part that has increased in size due to fluid, injury, or infection (a swollen ankle, swollen gums). 'Enlarged' sounds more clinical and is preferred in medical contexts where the cause may not involve fluid (an enlarged heart, enlarged pores). 'Puffy' describes a mild, soft swelling, typically of the face, eyelids, or lips, often from allergies, crying, or lack of sleep. 'Bloated' is reserved for the stomach or abdomen, where the cause is usually gas, overeating, or water retention. Compare: 'His knee was swollen after the soccer match' (injury-related), versus 'Her eyes looked puffy from allergies' (mild, soft), versus 'I feel bloated after that huge meal' (stomach, digestive).

swollen ↗enlargedpuffybloated

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • swollen up
  • become swollen
  • get swollen
  • look swollen

Prepositions

  • with (swollen with water)
  • from (swollen from the injury)

Etymology

Old EnglishGermanicEnglish

'Swollen' comes from Old English 'swellan', which meant 'to grow bigger or more intense'. It is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch 'zwellen' and German 'schwellen'. The adjective form developed naturally from the past participle of the verb.