Illustration of swan
- swan 1
plural swans
1
plural also swan
: any of various large heavy-bodied long-necked mostly pure white aquatic birds (family Anatidae, especially genus Cygnus) that have webbed feet and are related to but larger than the geese
2
: one that resembles or is likened to a swan
3
capitalized
: the constellation Cygnus
Examples of swan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024
Image Image The couples include Helen of Troy and Paris, who is identified in the scene with a Greek inscription by his other name, Alexandros, while a panel on the same wall shows Helen’s parents: Leda, queen of Sparta, and Zeus, depicted as the swan who seduced her.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
His infamous Black and White ball is chronicled in painstaking detail over an entire episode with Zac Posen brought in to design the swans’ gowns (Murphy veteran Lou Eyrich handles the rest of the show's costumes with aplomb—and real vintage).
—Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024
The term black swan event has been around for decades and is used to describe a major global event (typically in the financial markets) that can cause significant damage to a country’s economy.
—David Gilbert, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
White tights stuffed with socks, tutus and an orange pepper blossomed into Björk’s infamous swan frock from 2001.
—Max Berlinger, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024
The fashion world trumpeted Demi Moore, who wore a Balmain swan as procured by Brad Goreski to the Feud: Capote vs. The Swans’ NYC premiere.
—Carol McColgin, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Mar. 2024
One of the first people to call the bridge collapse a black swan event was disgraced former US national security adviser Michael Flynn.
—David Gilbert, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
The idea rests on the notion that black swans are very rare in nature, with nearly all of the birds white.
—The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2024
EW.com, 27 Oct. 2023
The music video, in which Tay swans around a Malibu mansion in a pastel two-piece, was more controversial.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2023
People, especially San Francisco old-timers, like to talk about the way our politicos tend to swan through the dining room at lunchtime, shaking outstretched hands on the way to their favorite tables.
—Soleil Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Oct. 2021
Noun
The swans found themselves constantly in the public eye and always sported the latest designer looks, dined at the poshest restaurants and attended New York City’s most exclusive parties.
—Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024
Image Image The couples include Helen of Troy and Paris, who is identified in the scene with a Greek inscription by his other name, Alexandros, while a panel on the same wall shows Helen’s parents: Leda, queen of Sparta, and Zeus, depicted as the swan who seduced her.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
His infamous Black and White ball is chronicled in painstaking detail over an entire episode with Zac Posen brought in to design the swans’ gowns (Murphy veteran Lou Eyrich handles the rest of the show's costumes with aplomb—and real vintage).
—Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024
The term black swan event has been around for decades and is used to describe a major global event (typically in the financial markets) that can cause significant damage to a country’s economy.
—David Gilbert, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
White tights stuffed with socks, tutus and an orange pepper blossomed into Björk’s infamous swan frock from 2001.
—Max Berlinger, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024
The fashion world trumpeted Demi Moore, who wore a Balmain swan as procured by Brad Goreski to the Feud: Capote vs. The Swans’ NYC premiere.
—Carol McColgin, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Mar. 2024
One of the first people to call the bridge collapse a black swan event was disgraced former US national security adviser Michael Flynn.
—David Gilbert, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
The idea rests on the notion that black swans are very rare in nature, with nearly all of the birds white.
—The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
This season reaches its pinnacle of camp with a visit from Oscar Wilde himself (Jordan Sebastian Waller), who swans through a crowd of Manhattan elite dropping droll asides after the premiere of his first play, Vera; or, The Nihilists.
—EW.com, 27 Oct. 2023
The music video, in which Tay swans around a Malibu mansion in a pastel two-piece, was more controversial.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2023
People, especially San Francisco old-timers, like to talk about the way our politicos tend to swan through the dining room at lunchtime, shaking outstretched hands on the way to their favorite tables.
—Soleil Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Oct. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'swan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near swan
Cite this Entry
“Swan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swan. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share