sway

Study(11)

/ˈsweɪ̯/

noun 5verb 5name 1

Collocations

(verb.) from side to side/backwards and forwards

ADV

gently, lightly, a little, slightly

alarmingly, dangerously, precariously

The old bridge swayed dangerously in the strong wind, frightening the pedestrians crossing it.

dizzily, drunkenly, unsteadily

back and forth, backwards and forwards, from side to side

The tall grass swayed back and forth in the gentle evening breeze.

VERB + SWAY

begin to

PREP

The tall grass swayed gently in the wind during the summer afternoon.

(verb.) influence sb/sth

ADV

easily

The old tree swayed easily in the gentle breeze during the summer afternoon.

Definitions

noun

The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.

A rocking or swinging motion.

The old song caused a little sway in everyone in the room.

Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side

I doubt I'll hold much sway with someone so powerful.

Though both Mr. Knight and Mr. Hennessey view themselves as traders first, the “finfluencer” culture has flourished with the surge in online interest, and they have considerable sway.

Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.

Rule; dominion; control; power.

Prospero:[…]Confederates / (ſo drie he was for Sway) with King of Naples / To giue him Annuall tribute, doe him homage / Subiect his Coronet, to his Crowne and bend / The Dukedom yet vnbow'd (alas poore Millaine) / To moſt ignoble ſtooping.

Prayuth's return as prime minister takes Thailand back to 1980s. Military still holds sway in a democracy that has yet to mature.

verb

To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock.

sway to the music

The trees swayed in the breeze.

To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield.

to sway the sceptre

As sparckles from the Anduile vse to fly, / When heauie hammers on the wedge are swaid

To influence or direct by power, authority, persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. Compare persuade.

Do you think you can sway their decision?

This was the race / To sway the world, and land and sea subdue.

To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; to warp.

reeds swayed by the wind

judgment swayed by passion

To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.

to sway up the yards

name

A village and civil parish in New Forest district, Hampshire, England (OS grid ref SZ2798).

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — pitching dangerously to one side

verb — move back and forth or sideways

verb — cause to move back and forth

rock

verb — move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner

swing

verb — win approval or support for

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

hold sway

To have the greatest influence (over someone or something); to be pre-eminent; to dominate.

Within Lololand, of course, no Chinese writ runs, no Chinese magistrate holds sway, and the people, more or less divided among themselves, are under the government of their tribal

Example Bank

The old song caused a little sway in everyone in the room.

Wiktionary

I doubt I'll hold much sway with someone so powerful.

Wiktionary

Though both Mr. Knight and Mr. Hennessey view themselves as traders first, the “finfluencer” culture has flourished with the surge in online interest, and they have considerable sway.

Wiktionary

sway to the music

Wiktionary

The trees swayed in the breeze.

Wiktionary

Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of mauve-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden be

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

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