swear

[ swair ]

verb (used without object)

, swore [swawr] or (Archaic) sware [swair]; sworn [swawrn]; swear·ing.

1. to make a solemn declaration or affirmation by some sacred being or object, as a deity or the Bible.

   Synonyms: avow, declare, affirm

2. to bind oneself by oath.
3. to give evidence or make a statement on oath.

   Synonyms: testify, depose

4. to use profane oaths or language:

   Don't swear in front of the children.

   Synonyms: imprecate

verb (used with object)

, swore [swawr] or (Archaic) sware [swair]; sworn [swawrn]; swear·ing.

1. to declare, affirm, attest, etc., by swearing by a deity, some sacred object, etc.
2. to affirm, assert, or say with solemn earnestness.
3. to promise or undertake on oath or in a solemn manner; vow.
4. to testify or state on oath:

   He swore it on the witness stand.

5. to take (an oath), as in order to give solemnity or force to a declaration, promise, etc.
6. to bind by an oath:

   to swear someone to secrecy.

noun

1. Informal. a profane or obscene word; curse word:

   If we said a swear, Mom made us put a quarter in the jar.

   Heads-up—this movie trailer is full of swears and is NSFW.

verb phrase

1. 1. to name (a sacred being or thing) as one's witness or guarantee in swearing.
   2. Informal. to have great confidence in; rely on:

      He swears by his dentist.

   3. to have certain knowledge of:

      I thought I saw him leaving, but I couldn't swear by it.

2. to promise or resolve to give up something:

   I've decided to swear off the internet one day a week.

   Have you sworn off red meat?

3. to admit to office or service by administering an oath:

   A new president will be sworn in today.

4. to secure (a warrant for arrest) by making an accusation under oath.

swear

/ swɛə /

verb

1. to declare or affirm (a statement) as true, esp by invoking a deity, etc, as witness
2. foll by by
   1. to invoke (a deity, etc) by name as a witness or guarantee to an oath
   2. to trust implicitly; have complete confidence (in)
3. introften foll byat to curse, blaspheme, or use swearwords
4. when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive to promise solemnly on oath; vow
5. tr to assert or affirm with great emphasis or earnestness
6. intr to give evidence or make any statement or solemn declaration on oath
7. to take an oath in order to add force or solemnity to (a statement or declaration)
8. swear blind informal.
   to assert emphatically

noun

1. a period of swearing

Derived Forms

• ˈswearer, noun

Other Words From

• swear·er noun
• swear·ing·ly adverb
• re·swear verb reswore resworn reswearing

Word History and Origins

Origin of swear¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English sweren, Old English swerian; cognate with German schwören, Old Norse sverja; akin to Gothic swaran “to swear”; answer

Word History and Origins

Origin of swear¹

Old English swerian; related to Old Norse sverja, Gothic swaran, Old Frisian swera, German schwören

Synonym Study

See curse.

Example Sentences

One English woman aged 45-54 years old, reported how "full-on" and "really abusive males" would swear at her, which made her stop knocking on doors to speak to people face-to-face.

From BBC

Since Nov. 5, there have been more than 500,000 Google searches for “4b movement,” while on TikTok, Instagram and X, support for the cause has been trending among young women voters who are vowing to swear off men.

From Los Angeles Times

“We were told that we weren’t allowed to swear in our speech,” she said from the stage, “so there goes my speech. It was just one swear word 150 times.”

From Los Angeles Times

“They cannot swear under threat of perjury that there’s irreparable harm, and then turn around say under our litigation, ‘No harm, no foul.’”

From Los Angeles Times

Mr King, the 696rd Lord Mayor, must travel to the Royal Courts to swear allegiance to the Crown before taking up his role.

From BBC

Related Words

• affirm
• assert
• depose
• testify
• vow