🇬🇧 Swollen meaning: English Vocabulary Flash Card

Swollen means a body part or other thing has puffed up and gotten bigger than normal, usually because it’s hurt, irritated, or filled with extra fluid or air—kind of like a balloon that got blown up too much.

After bumping his toe, Max’s swollen foot looked like it had eaten another smaller foot for lunch.

His swollen thumb was so puffy that the fingerprint scanner on the tablet said, “Nice try, balloon person.”

Her swollen ear stuck out so far she said it could probably catch radio signals from Mars.

I ate something spicy, and my swollen lips made me look like I was permanently doing a fishy kissy face.

Fun fact: when something is swollen, it’s often because extra fluid rushes to that spot to help it heal—so your body basically sends a tiny, squishy repair team that accidentally turns you into a balloon animal for a while.

He slipped on a stone and his ankle was swollen. The swollen ankle pushed at his shoe; the swollen foot hurt. He looked and his lip also looked swollen from the fall. He wrapped ice and sat down. After a long minute the swollen skin felt cool and he breathed out a small, happy sigh.

This word is at the B2 level, which means it’s used in more complex conversations and texts. It helps you discuss abstract ideas, express opinions clearly, and engage in discussions on a variety of topics, both personal and professional.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.