sway

1 of 2

noun

ˈswā 

1

: the action or an instance of swaying or of being swayed : an oscillating, fluctuating, or sweeping motion

2

: an inclination or deflection caused by or as if by swaying

3

a

: a controlling influence

b

: sovereign power : dominion

c

: the ability to exercise influence or authority : dominance

sway

2 of 2

verb

swayed; swaying; sways

intransitive verb

1

a

: to swing slowly and rhythmically back and forth from a base or pivot

b

: to move gently from an upright to a leaning position

2

: to hold sway : act as ruler or governor

3

: to fluctuate or veer between one point, position, or opinion and another

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to sway : set to swinging, rocking, or oscillating

b

: to cause to bend downward to one side

c

: to cause to turn aside : deflect, divert

2

archaic

a

: wield

b

: govern, rule

3

a

: to cause to vacillate

b

: to exert a guiding or controlling influence on

4

: to hoist in place

sway up a mast

swayer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• effect
• impact
• influence
• mark
• repercussion

Verb

• affect
• impact
• impress
• influence
• move
• reach
• strike
• tell (on)
• touch

Choose the Right Synonym for sway

Noun

power, authority, jurisdiction, control, command, sway, dominion mean the right to govern or rule or determine.

power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

Verb

swing, sway, oscillate, vibrate, fluctuate, waver, undulate mean to move from one direction to its opposite.

swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side.

the door suddenly swung open

sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement.

trees swaying in the breeze

oscillate stresses a usually regular alternation of direction.

an oscillating fan

vibrate suggests the rapid oscillation of an elastic body under stress or impact.

the vibrating strings of a piano

fluctuate suggests constant irregular changes of level, intensity, or value.

fluctuating interest rates

waver stresses irregular motion suggestive of reeling or tottering.

the exhausted runner wavered before collapsing

undulate suggests a gentle wavelike motion.

an undulating sea of grass

affect, influence, touch, impress, strike, sway mean to produce or have an effect upon.

affect implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction.

the sight affected her to tears

influence implies a force that brings about a change (as in nature or behavior).

our beliefs are influenced by our upbringing

touch may carry a vivid suggestion of close contact and may connote stirring, arousing, or harming.

plants touched by frost

his emotions were touched by her distress

impress stresses the depth and persistence of the effect.

only one of the plans impressed him

strike, similar to but weaker than impress, may convey the notion of sudden sharp perception or appreciation.

struck by the solemnity of the occasion

sway implies the acting of influences that are not resisted or are irresistible, with resulting change in character or course of action.

politicians who are swayed by popular opinion

Examples of sway in a Sentence

Noun

the sway of the ship

He has come under the sway of terrorists.

The ancient Romans held sway over most of Europe.

Verb

branches swaying in the breeze

He swayed a moment before he fainted.

The lawyer tried to sway the jury.

She persisted in her argument, but I wouldn't let her sway me.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have issued much tougher guidelines for reviewing transactions than have held sway over the past 40-odd years. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024

That argument held sway in a separate case, Martin v. Boise, in 2018. —Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024

Set in a speculative future in which the supply chain has failed and a lethal drug holds sway, Leif Enger’s latest novel steers a harrowing course through a broken world. —Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2024

Once court was called into session, courtroom sketch artists — a dying communications form — hold sway. —David Bauder, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024

Riots broke out in prisons where the gangs had long held sway. —Samantha Schmidt, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024

To the north, across New England and the Upper Midwest, antislavery Republicans held sway. —Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024

And while many of the voters in that third bucket are thought to typically break for one party or the other, moderates still hold outsized sway and have blunted political aspirations of hard-liners in recent cycles, including Lake two years ago. —Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024

And amending the charter would be tricky – even for Trump and his outsized sway over the company. —Matt Egan, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024

Verb

In a 4-3 decision, the New York appeals court Thursday found that the judge in the landmark #MeToo trial made several improper rulings that swayed the case against Weinstein, including a decision to let three women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case. —Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 25 Apr. 2024

Spelling, who played Donna Martin (and whose father, Aaron Spelling, produced the show) added that she was often easily swayed. —Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Apr. 2024

Game 1: Michael Massey returns as Royals surge to 9-4 victory over Orioles Big inning: How Royals 5-run inning swayed momentum in home win Here are more notables from Saturday’s game: Cole Ragans struggles in Orioles rematch Ragans lasted 1 ⅔ innings against the Orioles. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2024

Just after dessert, the Young Friends of Save Venice joined the party, and suddenly the dancefloor swelled and swayed to the tunes spun by DJ Olivier Meiji. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024

When your adventures are done for they day, relax on the large helipad, sway in a hammock and take in the beautiful uninterrupted sunsets. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2024

Their delicate motion and scale create an ambivalent sensation of both overwhelming vulnerability and loss, while suggesting a calm freedom swaying easily in the wind. —Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024

These fun lights, with more than 5,700 five-star ratings, feature a starburst effect to sway softly with the wind but are still durable to endure harsh weather. —Wendy Vazquez, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2024

Even the gym features floor-to-ceiling windows with front-row views of swaying palms and the coastline, making working out while on vacation more enjoyable. —Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sweigh, from sweyen

Verb

alteration of earlier swey to fall, swoon, from Middle English sweyen, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse sveigja to sway; akin to Lithuanian svaigti to become dizzy

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing sway

• hold sway
• sway bar
• under one's sway
• under the sway of (someone)

Kids Definition

sway

1 of 2 noun

ˈswā 

1

: the action or an instance of swaying or of being swayed

2

: a bending or twisting caused by or as if by swaying

3

: controlling force or influence : rule

sway

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to swing or cause to swing slowly back and forth

b

: to move gently from an upright to a leaning position

2

: to change often between one point, position, or opinion and another

3

: to have a strong influence upon

swayer noun