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: wave

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: tend, bend, lean

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

/ sweɪ /

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)

noun

1. control; power
2. a swinging or leaning movement
3. archaic.
   dominion; governing authority
4. hold sway
   to be master; reign

Derived Forms

• ˈswayful, adjective
• ˈswayable, adjective
• ˈswayer, noun

Other Words From

• swaya·ble adjective
• swayer noun
• swaying·ly adverb
• self-sway noun
• un·swaya·ble adjective
• un·swaying adjective

Word 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sway¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see hold sway .

Synonym Study

See swing ¹.

Example Sentences

It’s not surprising, she said, that others in Orange County were swayed to his side as well.

From Los Angeles Times

They claimed Mr Combs had encouraged his children to post a video on social media featuring their birthday celebration with the aim of swaying prospective jurors.

From BBC

The war has been devastating for Lebanon, where, in addition to the 3,823 people killed and 15,859 injured, one million residents have been displaced in areas where Hezbollah holds sway.

From BBC

But participants noted that Mr. Trump had not appeared to be swayed by protests, petitions, hashtag campaigns or other tools of mass dissent.

From Salon

She answered that Elon Musk’s sway with the president-elect was a troubling breakdown of barriers between the government and private businesses.

From Salon

Related Words

• bend
• lean
• swing
• waver
• wobble