swear
to make a solemn declaration or affirmation by some sacred being or object, as a deity or the Bible.
to bind oneself by oath.
to give evidence or make a statement on oath.
to use profane oaths or language: Don't swear in front of the children.
to declare, affirm, attest, etc., by swearing by a deity, some sacred object, etc.
to affirm, assert, or say with solemn earnestness.
to promise or undertake on oath or in a solemn manner; vow.
to testify or state on oath: He swore it on the witness stand.
to take (an oath), as in order to give solemnity or force to a declaration, promise, etc.
to bind by an oath: to swear someone to secrecy.
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.
swear by,
to name (a sacred being or thing) as one's witness or guarantee in swearing.
Informal. to have great confidence in; rely on: He swears by his dentist.
to have certain knowledge of: I thought I saw him leaving, but I couldn't swear by it.
swear in, to admit to office or service by administering an oath: A new president will be sworn in today.
swear off, 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?
swear out, to secure (a warrant for arrest) by making an accusation under oath.
Origin of swear
1synonym study For swear
Other words for swear
Other words from swear
- swear·er, noun
- swear·ing·ly, adverb
- re·swear, verb, re·swore, re·sworn, re·swear·ing.
Words Nearby swear
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use swear in a sentence
I swear, if he pees on another bush during a family walk, I just might lose it.
Miss Manners: Family member’s manners have gone to the dogs | Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin | February 9, 2021 | Washington PostLetlow, a 41-year-old congressman-elect from Louisiana, died after contracting covid-19 late last year, days before he was scheduled to be sworn in as a member of Congress.
Rep. Ron Wright has died after battle with covid-19 | Paulina Firozi, David Weigel | February 8, 2021 | Washington PostHe swears he can see his influence on Leftwich on the field.
Super Bowl highlights: Bucs celebrate championship, Tom Brady wins MVP | Des Bieler, Mark Maske, Chuck Culpepper | February 8, 2021 | Washington PostThe officer did not charge either man, but later that day Karau went before a Fairfax County magistrate and swore out a misdemeanor assault charge against Chastain.
Judge faults Fairfax County prosecutors for failing to notify victim of trial | Justin Jouvenal | February 5, 2021 | Washington PostAmong the possibilities raised were adding sworn police officers who could make arrests, ambassadors who could help riders navigate the system rather than write tickets and homeless outreach workers.
MTS Review Recommends Changes, But Stops Short of Sweeping Assessments | Lisa Halverstadt | February 5, 2021 | Voice of San Diego
Nine new Republican senators will swear their oaths of office.
The Democrats’ Black Hole—and What They Can Do About It | Michael Tomasky | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOr should you swear it off in the name of better cholesterol?
Bulletproof Coffee and the Case for Butter as a Health Food | DailyBurn | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOpposing fans often taunt him, screaming, “swear in a minute, he's going to swear in a minute.”
I swear we all went into this because we like people and most importantly the idea of healing you is very rewarding.
‘Code Black’: An M.D. on How to Fix Our Emergency Room Crisis | Ryan McGarry | June 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt just shocked me, I swear I would have a chauffeur if I could ever afford one.
The Price of Being a Patton: Wrestling With the Legacy of America’s Most Famous General | Tim Teeman | May 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThree hours ago you had never seen me, and now you swear my indifference will kill you.
I swear (and he did swear hard enough, if an oath could do it, to satisfy any man) I've had nothing to do with it.
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le FanuTo swear by his name is not to do sacrifice; and is therefore to perform another part of his worship.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John CunninghamThe men said unto her, we will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John CunninghamTo swear in suitable circumstances is the duty of all; but it is the privilege of those only who are in covenant with God.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John Cunningham
British Dictionary definitions for swear
/ (swɛə) /
to declare or affirm (a statement) as true, esp by invoking a deity, etc, as witness
(foll by by)
to invoke (a deity, etc) by name as a witness or guarantee to an oath
to trust implicitly; have complete confidence (in)
(intr often foll by at) to curse, blaspheme, or use swearwords
(when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to promise solemnly on oath; vow
(tr) to assert or affirm with great emphasis or earnestness
(intr) to give evidence or make any statement or solemn declaration on oath
to take an oath in order to add force or solemnity to (a statement or declaration)
swear blind informal to assert emphatically
a period of swearing
Origin of swear
1Derived forms of swear
- swearer, noun
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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