sway

American  

[swey] / sweɪ /

verb (used without object)

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)

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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Related Words

See swing ¹.

Other Word Forms

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

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

Example Sentences

Making it all cash would simplify Netflix’s deal and could sway some shareholders who have been weighing the two offers.

From The Wall Street Journal

None of this is to say citizens shouldn’t use social media to sway politicians.

From The Wall Street Journal

The head of the largest U.S. investor in Venezuela is in pole position to take advantage of greater U.S. sway over the country, where it has operated for more than a century.

From The Wall Street Journal

Spurs were functional rather than thrilling as they held sway in the first half, their superiority rewarded by Ben Davies' eighth goal in 244 Premier League appearances for the club.

From BBC

Something similar happened this summer when videos of actor Austin Butler went viral after he was filmed swaying awkwardly, arms crossed, at a Bad Bunny concert.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bend
• lean
• swing
• waver
• wobble