Swamp

/swɒmp/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A wetland area, typically characterized by saturated soil, stagnant water, and vegetation adapted to wet conditions.

The alligators in the swamp basked in the sun while the birds sang overhead.

A difficult or challenging situation that is hard to escape from.

He felt like he was in a swamp of paperwork that he couldn't get out of.

verb

To overwhelm or inundate, often with water or difficulty.

The heavy rains began to swamp the low-lying areas of the town.

To sink or submerge in a swamp; to drown or bog down.

The car got swamped when the river overflowed its banks.

Middle English, from Old English 'swanp'; of uncertain origin.

swamp someone

to overwhelm someone with work or responsibilities.

swamp thing

referring to something that is in a difficult situation.

swamp the market

flooding a market with too much product.

wetland

An area of land that is flooded with water, either permanently or seasonally.

marsh

A type of wetland that is dominated by herbaceous plants.

bog

A wetland that accumulates peat, often acidic and low in nutrients.

To be overloaded with responsibilities.

I'm totally swamped this week with all these projects.

To drown in work or obligations.

I feel swamped by all the emails I have to reply to.