swam upstream
Battled river's flow
Swam upstream is the past tense of swim upstream—to move against the current of a river or stream.
Fish swim upstream to spawn, fighting the flow to reach breeding grounds.
Figuratively, to swim upstream is to struggle against prevailing forces or conventional thinking: She swam upstream her whole career, challenging industry norms.
- swimMove through water
- salmonPink-fleshed migratory fish
- wild salmonFree-swimming pacific fish
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- currentsDirectional flows of movement
defiance · determination · nonconformity · bucking the trend · migration · grit · fortitude · rivers · endurance · spawning · spawning ground · paddling · resilience · instinct · fish · rapids · strong current · adaptation
swam upstreamdrifted
Moved without aim
floated · coasted · glided · went with the flow · let go
swam upstreamwent with the flow
Accepted prevailing circumstances
followed the crowd · conformed · played it safe · fell in line · fit in
swam, upstream, swims, swimming, swimmer, swimmers, swimsuit, stream, streams