: a low-lying or depressed and often wet stretch of land
also
: a shallow depression on a golf course
Examples of swale in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Police said the driver of the black Ford Fusion was headed south on northwest 12th Avenue at a high rate of speed near northwest 188th Street when the driver tried to bypass slow-moving traffic by driving on the swale.
—
Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Hoadley says that this grass will thrive in a wet area in your landscape or anywhere there is seasonal moisture, such as rain gardens and swales.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
Higher ground is drier and includes trees and shrubs, according to the park service, but swales, which are the lower ground, are wetter and include water stands and wetland plants.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Matsuyama had birdies on three of his first four holes, including a 27-footer over a swale on the par-3 fourth.
—Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swale
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Hoadley says that this grass will thrive in a wet area in your landscape or anywhere there is seasonal moisture, such as rain gardens and swales.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
Higher ground is drier and includes trees and shrubs, according to the park service, but swales, which are the lower ground, are wetter and include water stands and wetland plants.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Matsuyama had birdies on three of his first four holes, including a 27-footer over a swale on the par-3 fourth.
—Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swale
Cite this Entry
“Swale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swale. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
