sway

[swey]

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.

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

/ 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)

noun

1. control; power

2. a swinging or leaning movement

3. archaic,  dominion; governing authority

4. to be master; reign

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sway¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sway¹

C16: probably from Old Norse sveigja to bend; related to Dutch zwaaien, Low German swājen

Idioms and Phrases

see hold sway.

Synonym Study

See swing ¹.

Example Sentences

As Taylor Swift’s latest record brings scrutiny to the construction and thematics of pop music and its presentation, Wolf Alice’s seductive sway and wistful grit feels comparatively effortless, even if it’s just as accessible.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Footage on local media show overhead network cables swaying as vehicles come to a standstill the moment the 7.5 magnitude quake struck.

Read more on BBC

The jury was not swayed by this argument.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But Riyadh continues to wield outsize sway over oil prices through its command of OPEC, which controls up to 40% of the world’s oil output.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But they have limited sway over the group’s armed wing, which remains in the enclave.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bend 
• lean 
• swing 
• waver 
• wobble