Definition of sway
Examples of sway in a Sentence
the sway of the ship
the sexy sway of her hips
He has come under the sway of terrorists.
The ancient Romans held sway over most of Europe.
Origin and Etymology of sway
Middle English sweigh, from sweyen
Synonym Discussion of sway
sway
Definition of sway
intransitive verb
1a : to swing slowly and rhythmically back and forth from a base or pivotb : 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
1a : to cause to sway : set to swinging, rocking, or oscillatingb : to cause to bend downward to one sidec : to cause to turn aside : deflect, divert
3a : to cause to vacillateb : to exert a guiding or controlling influence on
4 : to hoist in place sway up a mast
swayer
nounExamples of sway in a Sentence
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.
Origin and Etymology of sway
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
Synonym Discussion of sway
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
SWAY Defined for English Language Learners
sway
playDefinition of sway for English Language Learners
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: a slow movement back and forth
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: a controlling force or influence
sway
Definition of sway for English Language Learners
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: to move slowly back and forth
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: to cause (someone) to agree with you or to share your opinion
SWAY Defined for Kids
Definition of sway for Students
swayed
;swaying
1 : to swing slowly back and forth or from side to side Tree branches were swaying in the wind.
2 : to change or cause to change between one point, position, or opinion and another The lawyer tried to sway the jury.
Learn More about sway
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See words that rhyme with sway Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sway Spanish Central: Translation of sway Nglish: Translation of sway for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sway for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sway
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