hold sway

phrase

: to have a dominant influence : rule

Examples of hold sway in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its gravity is extremely strong, of course, holding sway over a menagerie of objects around it. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2026

Passions ran especially hot over slavery in the territories, where federal law held sway. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Bond markets have always held sway over rates, but when investors are saying that debt and deficit levels are too high, there’s little any one policymaker can do to change their minds. — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Beijing would hold sway over countries reliant on its imports as well as key exports. — Caitlin Welsh, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hold sway

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway