swear

[ swair ]

/ swɛər /

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See synonyms for: swear / swearing / swore / sworn on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), swore

[swawr, swohr] /swɔr, swoʊr/ or (Archaic) sware

[swair]; /swɛər/; sworn

[swawrn, swohrn]; /swɔrn, swoʊrn/; swear·ing.

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

to bind oneself by oath.

to give evidence or make a statement on oath.

to use profane oaths or language: Don't swear in front of the children.

verb (used with object), swore

[swawr, swohr] /swɔr, swoʊr/ or (Archaic) sware

[swair]; /swɛər/; sworn

[swawrn, swohrn]; /swɔrn, swoʊrn/; swear·ing.

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

to affirm, assert, or say with solemn earnestness.

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

to testify or state on oath: He swore it on the witness stand.

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

to bind by an oath: to swear someone to secrecy.

Verb Phrases

swear by,

to name (a sacred being or thing) as one's witness or guarantee in swearing.
Informal. to have great confidence in; rely on: He swears by his dentist.
to have certain knowledge of: I thought I saw him leaving, but I couldn't swear by it.

swear in, to admit to office or service by administering an oath: A new president will be sworn in today.

swear off, to promise or resolve to give up something, especially intoxicating beverages.

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

OTHER WORDS FOR swear

1 declare, affirm, avow.

3 depose, testify.

4 imprecate.

See synonyms for swear on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of swear

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

synonym study for swear

4. See curse.

OTHER WORDS FROM swear

swearer, nounswear·ing·ly, adverbre·swear, verb, re·swore, re·sworn, re·swear·ing.

Words nearby swear

Swaziland, Swazi Territory, swazzle, SWbS, SWbW, swear, swear at, swear by, swear in, swearing-in, swear jar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use swear in a sentence

I swear, if he pees on another bush during a family walk, I just might lose it.
Miss Manners: Family member’s manners have gone to the dogs|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
Letlow, a 41-year-old congressman-elect from Louisiana, died after contracting covid-19 late last year, days before he was scheduled to be sworn in as a member of Congress.
Rep. Ron Wright has died after battle with covid-19|Paulina Firozi, David Weigel|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
He swears he can see his influence on Leftwich on the field.
Super Bowl highlights: Bucs celebrate championship, Tom Brady wins MVP|Des Bieler, Mark Maske, Chuck Culpepper|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
The officer did not charge either man, but later that day Karau went before a Fairfax County magistrate and swore out a misdemeanor assault charge against Chastain.
Judge faults Fairfax County prosecutors for failing to notify victim of trial|Justin Jouvenal|February 5, 2021|Washington Post

Among the possibilities raised were adding sworn police officers who could make arrests, ambassadors who could help riders navigate the system rather than write tickets and homeless outreach workers.
MTS Review Recommends Changes, But Stops Short of Sweeping Assessments|Lisa Halverstadt|February 5, 2021|Voice of San Diego
Nine new Republican senators will swear their oaths of office.
The Democrats’ Black Hole—and What They Can Do About It|Michael Tomasky|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Or should you swear it off in the name of better cholesterol?
Bulletproof Coffee and the Case for Butter as a Health Food|DailyBurn|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Opposing fans often taunt him, screaming, “Swear in a minute, he's going to swear in a minute.”
Team USA Lost, but Tim Howard Is a Winner|Emily Shire|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I swear we all went into this because we like people and most importantly the idea of healing you is very rewarding.
‘Code Black’: An M.D. on How to Fix Our Emergency Room Crisis|Ryan McGarry|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It just shocked me, I swear I would have a chauffeur if I could ever afford one.
The Price of Being a Patton: Wrestling With the Legacy of America’s Most Famous General|Tim Teeman|May 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Three hours ago you had never seen me, and now you swear my indifference will kill you.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
I swear (and he did swear hard enough, if an oath could do it, to satisfy any man) I've had nothing to do with it.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
To swear by his name is not to do sacrifice; and is therefore to perform another part of his worship.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
The men said unto her, we will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
To swear in suitable circumstances is the duty of all; but it is the privilege of those only who are in covenant with God.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham

British Dictionary definitions for swear

swear

/ (swɛə) /

verb swears, swearing, swore or sworn

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

(foll by by)

to invoke (a deity, etc) by name as a witness or guarantee to an oath
to trust implicitly; have complete confidence (in)

(intr often foll by at) to curse, blaspheme, or use swearwords

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

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

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

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

swear blind informal to assert emphatically

noun

a period of swearing

Derived forms of swear

swearer, noun

Word Origin for swear

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

swear

OTHER WORDS FOR swear

Origin of swear

synonym study for swear

OTHER WORDS FROM swear

Words nearby swear

Words related to swear

How to use swear in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for swear

Derived forms of swear

Word Origin for swear