swear

1 of 2

verb

swore ˈswȯr How to pronounce swear (audio) ; sworn ˈswȯrn How to pronounce swear (audio) ; swearing

transitive verb

1
: to utter or take solemnly (an oath)
2
a
: to assert as true or promise under oath
a sworn affidavit
swore to uphold the Constitution
b
: to assert or promise emphatically or earnestly
swore he'd study harder next time
3
a
: to put to an oath : administer an oath to
b
: to bind by an oath
swore them to secrecy
4
obsolete : to invoke the name of (a sacred being) in an oath
5
: to bring into a specified state by swearing
swore his life away

intransitive verb

1
: to take an oath
2
: to use profane or obscene language : curse
swearer noun

swear

2 of 2

noun

Phrases
swear by
: to place great confidence in
swears by his mechanic
swear for
: to give assurance for : guarantee
swear off
: to vow to abstain from : renounce
swear off smoking

Examples of swear in a Sentence

Verb He swore revenge on the killers. I swear to God, I'll kill him if he comes back. Don't swear in front of the children. I do solemnly swear to tell the whole truth. Noun I heard him say a swear. can't you express your frustration without using swears?
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Anything that could be construed as a tacit defense of such behavior hurts the very people Johnson has sworn to protect. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2024 Plenty of people swear by the audio brand and love its products. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
There’s a heavy focus on Asia’s first One&Only spa, featuring a green caviar body exfoliation and an Augustinus Bader facial celebs swear by. Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2024 Biggest takeaways from 'Hard Knocks' with Bears: An HBO show with no swears? Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for swear 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'swear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sweren, from Old English swerian; akin to Old High German swerien to swear and perhaps to Old Church Slavic svarŭ quarrel

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of swear was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near swear

Cite this Entry

“Swear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swear. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

swear

verb
ˈswa(ə)r,
ˈswe(ə)r
swore
ˈswō(ə)r,
ˈswȯ(ə)r
; sworn
ˈswō(ə)rn,
ˈswȯ(ə)rn
; swearing
1
: to make a statement or promise under oath
2
a
: to state as true under oath
a sworn statement
b
: to state or promise strongly or sincerely
I swear that I was there
3
a
: to give an oath to
the witness was sworn
b
: to bind by an oath
swore us to secrecy
4
: to take an oath
5
: to use bad or vulgar language
swearer noun

Legal Definition

swear

verb
swore; sworn; swearing

transitive verb

1
: to utter or take solemnly
swear an oath
2
a
: to assert as true or promise under oath
a sworn affidavit
b
: to assert or promise emphatically or earnestly
swore to uphold the constitution
3
a
: to put to an oath
b
: to bind by an oath

intransitive verb

: to take an oath
Etymology

Verb

Old English swerian

More from Merriam-Webster on swear

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