51Թ

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View synonyms for

sway

[ swey ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to move or swing to and fro, as something fixed at one end or resting on a support.

    Synonyms:

  2. to move or incline to one side or in a particular direction.
  3. to incline in opinion, sympathy, tendency, etc.:

    She swayed toward conservatism.

    Synonyms: , ,

  4. to fluctuate or vacillate, as in opinion:

    His ideas swayed this way and that.

  5. to wield power; exercise rule.


verb (used with object)

  1. to cause to move to and fro or to incline from side to side.
  2. to cause to move to one side or in a particular direction.
  3. Nautical. to hoist or raise (a yard, topmast, or the like) (usually followed by up ).
  4. to cause to fluctuate or vacillate.
  5. to cause (the mind, emotions, etc., or a person) to incline or turn in a specified way; influence.
  6. to cause to swerve, as from a purpose or a course of action:

    He swayed them from their plan.

  7. to dominate; direct.
  8. to wield, as a weapon or scepter.
  9. to rule; govern.

noun

  1. the act of swaying; swaying movement.
  2. rule; dominion:

    He held all Asia in his sway.

  3. dominating power or influence:

    Many voters were under his sway.

sway

/ ɱɪ /

verb

  1. usually intr to swing or cause to swing to and fro
  2. usually intr to lean or incline or cause to lean or incline to one side or in different directions in turn
  3. usually intr to vacillate or cause to vacillate between two or more opinions
  4. to be influenced or swerve or influence or cause to swerve to or from a purpose or opinion
  5. tr nautical to hoist (a yard, mast, or other spar)
  6. archaic.
    to rule or wield power (over)
  7. archaic.
    tr to wield (a weapon)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. control; power
  2. a swinging or leaning movement
  3. archaic.
    dominion; governing authority
  4. hold sway
    to be master; reign
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈɲڳܱ, adjective
  • ˈɲⲹ, adjective
  • ˈɲ, noun
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ɲa· adjective
  • ɲİ noun
  • ɲiԲ· adverb
  • -ɲ noun
  • un·ɲa· adjective
  • ܲ·ɲiԲ adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of sway1

First recorded in 1300–50; (for the verb) Middle English sweyen, from Old Norse sveigja “to bend, sway” (transitive); noun derivative of the verb
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of sway1

C16: probably from Old Norse sveigja to bend; related to Dutch zwaaien, Low German
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Idioms and Phrases

see hold sway .
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Synonym Study

See swing 1.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Those facts helped sway the high court that Juror 5’s concerns were genuine and his removal improper.

From

Nintendo argues its 3D audio tech will create a surround sound experience, but this is unlikely to be the feature that sways people to picking up the device.

From

It is unclear whether the move would have swayed the election had this story been true.

From

Structural beams, columns and slabs held up, despite extreme shaking and swaying of some high-rises.

From

It is unclear whether Trump has been swayed at all by Smith's lobbying, though the premier took credit on Friday for shifting Shapiro's opinion on tariffs, after he spoke out against them.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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