1 B2 informal
To clean out an enclosed space, especially a vehicle or animal stall, by washing and scrubbing it thoroughly.
"After the flood, the volunteers spent all day swamping out the ground floor of the community centre."
separable
swamp out
B2 informal separable transitive
To clean out a space, vehicle, or enclosure thoroughly, especially by washing or swabbing, often when it has become very dirty or waterlogged.
In plain English
To give a dirty, wet, or messy place a really thorough cleaning, usually with water.
What does "swamp out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
In military or outdoor contexts, to clean and clear out a tent, vehicle, or temporary shelter.
"The sergeant ordered the recruits to swamp out the barracks before lights out."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To clean something out as if washing out a swamp.
Actually means
To give a dirty, wet, or messy place a really thorough cleaning, usually with water.
Usage tip
Used especially in military (cleaning out vehicles or billets), nautical, and rural/farming contexts. Less common in everyday domestic use. Can also occasionally mean to overwhelm someone with too much work, though 'swamp' alone is used more often for this.
Words that pair with "swamp out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
boat truck stable bilge enclosure vehicle
How to conjugate "swamp out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
swamp out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
swamps out
he/she/it
Past simple
swamped out
yesterday
Past participle
swamped out
have + pp
-ing form
swamping out
continuous
Hear "swamp out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "swamp out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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