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

We get up and sway to the groove, and as we get closer, our eyes meet.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

He shifts his weight, a sway of the hips, one touch, another, a slight change of direction - and he is gone.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

"It's too small a move to sway the larger forces at play in the Gulf," he cautioned, even though it could help cool costs in the northeast or southwest.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

Goldin specifically chose to target museums and art institutions that featured her photographs, understanding that her message had all the more sway because of her status as a member of their collections.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

Nhamo yelled when the boat began to sway.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

Related Words

• bend
• lean
• swing
• waver
• wobble