sway

American  

[swey] / sweɪ /

verb (used without object)

sways, present (3rd person singular) swayed, past participle, past swaying present participle

1. to move or swing to and fro, as something fixed at one end or resting on a support.

   Synonyms:

   wave

2. to move or incline to one side or in a particular direction.

3. to incline in opinion, sympathy, tendency, etc..

   She swayed toward conservatism.

   Synonyms:

   tend, bend, lean

4. to fluctuate or vacillate, as in opinion.

   His ideas swayed this way and that.

5. to wield power; exercise rule.

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verb (used with object)

sways, present (3rd person singular) swayed, past participle, past swaying present participle

1. to cause to move to and fro or to incline from side to side.

2. to cause to move to one side or in a particular direction.

3. Nautical. to hoist or raise (a yard, topmast, or the like) (usually followed byup ).

4. to cause to fluctuate or vacillate.

5. to cause (the mind, emotions, etc., or a person) to incline or turn in a specified way; influence.

6. to cause to swerve, as from a purpose or a course of action.

   He swayed them from their plan.

7. to dominate; direct.

8. to wield, as a weapon or scepter.

9. to rule; govern.

noun

1. the act of swaying; swaying movement.

2. rule; dominion.

   He held all Asia in his sway.

3. dominating power or influence.

   Many voters were under his sway.

sway British  

/ sweɪ /

verb

1. (usually intr) to swing or cause to swing to and fro

2. (usually intr) to lean or incline or cause to lean or incline to one side or in different directions in turn

3. (usually intr) to vacillate or cause to vacillate between two or more opinions

4. to be influenced or swerve or influence or cause to swerve to or from a purpose or opinion

5. (tr) nautical to hoist (a yard, mast, or other spar)

6. archaic to rule or wield power (over)

7. archaic (tr) to wield (a weapon)

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noun

1. control; power

2. a swinging or leaning movement

3. archaic dominion; governing authority

4. to be master; reign

sway Idioms  

1. see hold sway.

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Synonym Usage

See swing ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-sway
  noun
• swayer
  noun
• swayable
  adjective
• swayful
  adjective
• unswayable
  adjective
• unswaying
  adjective
• swayingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• swaying
  present
• swayed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• sway
  simple
• sways
  simple
• have swayed
  perfect
• has swayed
  perfect
• am swaying
  progressive
• are swaying
  progressive
• is swaying
  progressive
• have been swaying
  perfect progressive
• has been swaying
  perfect progressive

Past

• swayed
  simple
• had swayed
  perfect
• was swaying
  progressive
• were swaying
  progressive
• had been swaying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will sway
  simple
• will have swayed
  perfect
• will be swaying
  progressive
• will have been swaying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of sway

First recorded in 1300–50; (for the verb) Middle English sweyen, from Old Norse sveigja “to bend, sway” (transitive); noun derivative of the verb

Explanation

Back and forth...back and forth...back and forth...are you sea-sick yet? The sway, or rocking motion, of a boat is too much for many stomachs. People can sway if they're dizzy, tilting from side to side as they walk. On a windy day you can see trees swaying and bending in the wind. Swaying is usually a gentle motion, but if you're easily swayed, you're in trouble. That means you're easily influenced by others. People of power often "hold sway" over their followers, controlling them with the seeming ease of the breeze.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sway sways swayed swaying

“Sinners” and “Weapons” proved ambitious horror can indeed sway the Academy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

The incoming prime minister's approach to spending also leads the Financial Times, which says Burnham will enter Downing Street seeking "greater sway" over important public spending decisions.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

But at a moment when Fed officials are torn over whether higher interest rates are needed, even a slightly cooler inflation rate could sway their thinking.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

Rodrigo Leite of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro told AFP that public figures held more sway than traditional commercials, and that Brazilians needed better financial education.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

They rock and sway in the doorway, they laugh so much.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

Settles-Bey sways to the rhythm of the bongos on a recent Sunday in the park -- but nerves are still frayed.

From Barron's ● May 19, 2026

Putting a red pump on a can of Diet Coke isn’t going to be the factor that sways ticket sales.

From Salon ● Apr. 20, 2026

When his “political enemy,” the glib and popular Alcibiades, sways the assembly, Nicias replies that this means sending both a fleet and “large numbers of land forces.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025

Nintendo argues its 3D audio tech will create a surround sound experience, but this is unlikely to be the feature that sways people to picking up the device.

From BBC ● Apr. 2, 2025

I walk away from him as fast as I can, but the train jolts and sways and I almost lose my balance.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

A defendant need show only a “reasonable possibility” that the bogus forensics swayed even one juror.

From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026

She paced, she swayed, she laughed with displeasure.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

Regan also swayed investors with what Cialdini calls “social proof,” namedropping influential-sounding people or institutions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

"If those systems were to change, maybe my decision could have been swayed earlier on," she tells me.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

It lit up the valley around them, the rushing river gurgled and splashed, the giant trees swayed in the frigid breeze, the grass looked touched with silver.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

Moderating gasoline prices and news of a ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran are slowly swaying consumers to feel marginally better about their economic situations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Something dark and flat was swaying gently against the floor of the Reflecting Pool as I strolled past the monuments on Thursday morning.

From Slate ● Jun. 19, 2026

However, the guidance may now be swaying some investors.

From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026

Corporations, labor unions, tech titans, tribes and other special interests have donated $79.6 million to independent committees focused on swaying the volatile California governor’s race ahead of the June 2 primary.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

She’s swaying with a hand on her forehead.

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone

Related Words

• bend
• lean
• swing
• waver
• wobble