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.

---

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)

---

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.

---

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

Some partygoers remember it swaying back and forth when it was packed with people.

From The Wall Street Journal

At first, his balance steadied, but then, because Handsome was staring down at the moving river, it brought on a spell of dizziness that caused him to sway this way and that.

From Literature

The miller swayed and his sons gathered around him.

From Literature

While the prospective changes are unlikely to deter the BOJ from raising rates, they could have some sway, analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Due to this, the CPS, which "must not be swayed by feeling or emotion", accepted his pleas, she said.

From BBC

Related Words

• bend
• lean
• swing
• waver
• wobble