diff --git a/autogen/agentchat/contrib/swarm_agent.py b/autogen/agentchat/contrib/swarm_agent.py
index fcb6db08a1..c525c53db3 100644
--- a/autogen/agentchat/contrib/swarm_agent.py
+++ b/autogen/agentchat/contrib/swarm_agent.py
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ def __init__(
         human_input_mode: Literal["ALWAYS", "NEVER", "TERMINATE"] = "NEVER",
         description: Optional[str] = None,
         code_execution_config=False,
-        update_agent_before_reply: Optional[
+        update_agent_state_before_reply: Optional[
             Union[List[Union[Callable, UPDATE_SYSTEM_MESSAGE]], Callable, UPDATE_SYSTEM_MESSAGE]
         ] = None,
         **kwargs,
@@ -385,9 +385,9 @@ def __init__(
         # List of Dictionaries containing the nested_chats and condition
         self._nested_chat_handoffs = []
 
-        self.register_update_agent_before_reply(update_agent_before_reply)
+        self.register_update_agent_state_before_reply(update_agent_state_before_reply)
 
-    def register_update_agent_before_reply(self, functions: Optional[Union[List[Callable], Callable]]):
+    def register_update_agent_state_before_reply(self, functions: Optional[Union[List[Callable], Callable]]):
         """
         Register functions that will be called when the agent is selected and before it speaks.
         You can add your own validation or precondition functions here.
diff --git a/autogen/agentchat/conversable_agent.py b/autogen/agentchat/conversable_agent.py
index db69574f96..ffd6923721 100644
--- a/autogen/agentchat/conversable_agent.py
+++ b/autogen/agentchat/conversable_agent.py
@@ -2093,7 +2093,7 @@ def generate_reply(
             messages = self._oai_messages[sender]
 
         # Call the hookable method that gives registered hooks a chance to update agent state, used for their context variables.
-        self.process_update_agent_states(messages)
+        self.update_agent_state_before_reply(messages)
 
         # Call the hookable method that gives registered hooks a chance to process the last message.
         # Message modifications do not affect the incoming messages or self._oai_messages.
@@ -2166,7 +2166,7 @@ async def a_generate_reply(
             messages = self._oai_messages[sender]
 
         # Call the hookable method that gives registered hooks a chance to update agent state, used for their context variables.
-        self.process_update_agent_states(messages)
+        self.update_agent_state_before_reply(messages)
 
         # Call the hookable method that gives registered hooks a chance to process all messages.
         # Message modifications do not affect the incoming messages or self._oai_messages.
@@ -2854,7 +2854,7 @@ def register_hook(self, hookable_method: str, hook: Callable):
         assert hook not in hook_list, f"{hook} is already registered as a hook."
         hook_list.append(hook)
 
-    def process_update_agent_states(self, messages: List[Dict]) -> None:
+    def update_agent_state_before_reply(self, messages: List[Dict]) -> None:
         """
         Calls any registered capability hooks to update the agent's state.
         Primarily used to update context variables.
diff --git a/website/docs/topics/swarm.ipynb b/website/docs/topics/swarm.ipynb
index 2edd76fcde..82a0a3cc83 100644
--- a/website/docs/topics/swarm.ipynb
+++ b/website/docs/topics/swarm.ipynb
@@ -168,11 +168,11 @@
    "source": [
     "### Update Agent state before replying\n",
     "\n",
-    "It can be useful to update an agent's state before they reply, particularly their system message/prompt.\n",
+    "It can be useful to update a swarm agent's state before they reply. For example, using an agent's context variables you could change their system message based on the state of the workflow.\n",
     "\n",
-    "When initialising an agent you can use the `update_agent_before_reply` to register the updates run when the agent is selected, but before they reply.\n",
+    "When initialising a swarm agent use the `update_agent_state_before_reply` parameter to register updates that run after the agent is selected, but before they reply.\n",
     "\n",
-    "The `update_agent_before_reply` takes a list of any combination of the following (executing them in the provided order):\n",
+    "`update_agent_state_before_reply` takes a list of any combination of the following (executing them in the provided order):\n",
     "\n",
     "- `UPDATE_SYSTEM_MESSAGE` provides a simple way to update the agent's system message via an f-string that substitutes the values of context variables, or a Callable that returns a string\n",
     "- Callable with two parameters of type `ConversableAgent` for the agent and `List[Dict[str Any]]` for the messages, and does not return a value\n",
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@
     "customer_service = SwarmAgent(\n",
     "    name=\"CustomerServiceRep\",\n",
     "    system_message=\"You are a customer service representative.\",\n",
-    "    update_agent_before_reply=[\n",
+    "    update_agent_state_before_reply=[\n",
     "        UPDATE_SYSTEM_MESSAGE(\"You are a customer service representative. Quote passport number '{passport_number}'\"),\n",
     "        UPDATE_SYSTEM_MESSAGE(create_system_prompt_function),\n",
     "        my_callable_state_update_function]\n",