wield
Americanverb (used with object)
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to exercise (power, authority, influence, etc.), as in ruling or dominating.
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to use (a weapon, instrument, etc.) effectively; handle or employ actively.
- Synonyms:
- control, manipulate
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Archaic. to guide or direct.
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Archaic. to govern; manage.
verb
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to handle or use (a weapon, tool, etc)
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to exert or maintain (power or authority)
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obsolete to rule
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have wieldedperfect
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has wieldedperfect 3rd person singular
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am wieldingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been wieldingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is wieldingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are wieldingprogressive
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have been wieldingperfect progressive
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wieldssingular 3rd person
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wieldingparticiple
Past
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had wieldedperfect
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wieldedsimple
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had been wieldingperfect progressive
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wieldedparticiple
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were wieldingprogressive plural
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was wieldingprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of wield
First recorded before 900; Middle English welden, Old English wieldan “to control,” derivative of wealdan “to rule”; cognate with German walten, Old Norse valda, Gothic waldan; akin to Latin valēre “to be strong, prevail”
Explanation
If you wield a tool or a weapon, you handle it effectively. Picture a gallant knight wielding a sword or a skillful chef wielding a whisk. You don't just have to wield something physical; you can also wield or exert influence or authority. Wield is frequently followed by the word power. If you were a king, you could wield great power in your kingdom — exerting your influence over everything from food rations to castle upkeep. As it is, though, you might just wield power over your pet goldfish. Note: wield follows the i before e, except after c spelling rule.
Vocabulary lists containing wield
"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 1–7
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100 SAT words Beginning with W,X,Y, and Z
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wield thy twiggy sceptre well, my liege, for your future earnings can go down as well as up.
From The Guardian • Dec. 3, 2010
The New Machiavelli: How to Wield Power in the Modern World by Jonathan Powell Machiavelli was focused on human nature and his writings capture eternal verities in the same way that Shakespeare's plays do.
From The Guardian • Oct. 9, 2010
Wield, wēld, v.t. to use with full command: to manage: to use.—adj.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
Swinging homeward over the Cotswolds Mark flattered himself on a victory over heretics, and he imagined his adversaries entering Wield that afternoon, the prey of doubt and mortification.
From The Altar Steps by MacKenzie, Compton
Just at dusk, Inspectors Wield and Stalker are announced; but we do not undertake to warrant the orthography of any of the names here mentioned.
From Reprinted Pieces by Dickens, Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
