swear

[swair]

verb (used without object)

swore , sware, sworn, swearing. .

1. to make a solemn declaration or affirmation by some sacred being or object, as a deity or the Bible.

   Synonyms: avow, affirm, declare

2. to bind oneself by oath.

3. to give evidence or make a statement on oath.

   Synonyms: testify, depose

4. to use profane oaths or language.

   Don't swear in front of the children.

   Synonyms: imprecate

verb (used with object)

swore , sware, sworn, swearing. .

1. to declare, affirm, attest, etc., by swearing by a deity, some sacred object, etc.

2. to affirm, assert, or say with solemn earnestness.

3. to promise or undertake on oath or in a solemn manner; vow.

4. to testify or state on oath.

   He swore it on the witness stand.

5. to take (an oath), as in order to give solemnity or force to a declaration, promise, etc.

6. to bind by an oath.

   to swear someone to secrecy.

noun

1. Informal.,  a profane or obscene word; curse word.

   If we said a swear, Mom made us put a quarter in the jar.

   Heads-up—this movie trailer is full of swears and is NSFW.

verb phrase

1. swear by

   1. to name (a sacred being or thing) as one's witness or guarantee in swearing.

   2. Informal.,  to have great confidence in; rely on.

      He swears by his dentist.

   3. to have certain knowledge of.

      I thought I saw him leaving, but I couldn't swear by it.

2. swear off,  to promise or resolve to give up something.

   I've decided to swear off the internet one day a week.

   Have you sworn off red meat?

3. swear in,  to admit to office or service by administering an oath.

   A new president will be sworn in today.

4. swear out,  to secure (a warrant for arrest) by making an accusation under oath.

swear

/ swɛə /

verb

1. to declare or affirm (a statement) as true, esp by invoking a deity, etc, as witness

2. (foll by by)

   1. to invoke (a deity, etc) by name as a witness or guarantee to an oath

   2. to trust implicitly; have complete confidence (in)

3. to curse, blaspheme, or use swearwords

4. (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to promise solemnly on oath; vow

5. (tr) to assert or affirm with great emphasis or earnestness

6. (intr) to give evidence or make any statement or solemn declaration on oath

7. to take an oath in order to add force or solemnity to (a statement or declaration)

8. informal,  to assert emphatically

noun

1. a period of swearing

Other Word Forms

• swearer noun
• swearingly adverb
• reswear verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of swear¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English sweren, Old English swerian; cognate with German schwören, Old Norse sverja; akin to Gothic swaran “to swear”; answer

Word History and Origins

Origin of swear¹

Old English swerian; related to Old Norse sverja, Gothic swaran, Old Frisian swera, German schwören

Synonym Study

See curse.

Example Sentences

"I swear that if power cuts persist in the capital within a year, I will resign," he said.

Read more on BBC

He has since walked the statement back, with a leadership aide insisting that they will swear Grijalva in when Senate Democrats “decide to open up the government” and the House returns to session.

Read more on Salon

However, a leadership aide for Johnson contradicted the statement later in the day, saying it was “customary practice” to swear in newly elected representatives when Congress is in session.

Read more on Salon

McIlroy backed out of a putt at one stage because of the abuse and in a separate incident swore at a spectator who called out while he was addressing the ball.

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Then during the Covid-19 pandemic when she was 16, she had what she describes as a "massive flare up" in which she was "punching" herself and "swearing" at her parents.

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Related Words

• affirm 
• assert 
• depose 
• testify 
• vow