wield
Americanverb (used with object)
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wields,
present (3rd person singular)
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wielded,
past participle, past
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wielding
present participle
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to exercise (power, authority, influence, etc.), as in ruling or dominating.
-
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
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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wieldsimple
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wieldssimple
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have wieldedperfect
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has wieldedperfect
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am wieldingprogressive
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are wieldingprogressive
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is wieldingprogressive
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have been wieldingperfect progressive
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has been wieldingperfect progressive
Past
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wieldedsimple
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had wieldedperfect
-
was wieldingprogressive
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were wieldingprogressive
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had been wieldingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
“It was obviously newsworthy, but this officer was able to wield the law against this journalist, and that is the kind of thing we are worried about,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
Influencers with large followings can still wield power as brand ambassadors, much like traditional entertainment celebrities do.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
It's a nice marriage between the two, albeit disappointing that some things were not recreated - such as the ability to wield your assassin's hidden blades in combat.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
I wrote a column shortly after, heralding Lopez’s overwhelming victory as a new era for Latino politics in Orange County, where Latinos make up a third of the population but still wield little power.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
Sixty pounds was considered a good weight for the arms used on the pel-quintain—so that, when he did come at length to the usual weapons, he would wield them featly.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
The network’s legal department now clearly wields a veto over its newsroom and primetime opinion stars.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
“Best and Last’s” flashbacks are a walloping reminder that Knoxville is inimitable: a telegenic and extroverted entertainer with a charisma he wields like a skunk aims its stink.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
Kim wields more agency than before and is determined to assert more autonomy during policy discussions with his Chinese guest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since being appointed, his health condition is a mystery, and it's unclear how much power he wields.
From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026
“Who knows, my friend? Maybe the sword does possess some magic. Personally, I think it’s the warrior who wields it.”
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
When tensions arose between Amodei and OpenAI co-founders Sam Altman and Brockman over who wielded power at the startup, Amodei, his sister and five other employees left to found Anthropic, in December 2020.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
All this shapeshifting gives few clues about what Butler has been pursuing all these years, aside from power itself, which he has apparently wielded in the person of Gabbard.
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026
It’s an audible version of the dramatic pause that is wielded to such versatile effect by Anton Chekhov, Harold Pinter and Annie Baker.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026
In sweltering heat at a fuel station, 24-year-old Tushar wielded a hammer as he fitted a Trump face cover to a three-wheeled rickshaw.
From Barron's ● May 22, 2026
Did the duke know the power his Champion wielded?
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
McDonald’s remains the U.S. burger leader, generating roughly five times the domestic sales of Burger King, and wielding a billion-dollar ad budget.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Only a true and blustery hero can string it, much as we believe that only Damon can win a knife fight by wielding a pen.
From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026
More than a valuable economic resource, the dark ore has become one of the pillars of Polish identity -- with miners long wielding political influence.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Khanna, 49, had been in a van with his team when they were surrounded by settlers wielding M4 rifles on Wednesday, he told Reuters news agency.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
He opened his eyes and his glance fell on Charles, still wielding the guilty prayerbook.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
