sway

Pronunciation

• enPR: swā, IPA: /sweɪ/

Noun

sway (countable and uncountable, plural sways)

1. The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.
2. A rocking or swinging motion.
   • The old song caused a little sway in everyone in the room.
3. Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
   • I doubt I'll hold much sway with someone so powerful.
4. Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.
5. Rule; dominion; control; power.
6. A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.
7. The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion.

Verb

sway (third-person singular simple present sways, present participle swaying, simple past and past participle swayed)

1. To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock.
   • sway to the music
   • The trees swayed in the breeze.
2. To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield.
   • to sway the sceptre
3. 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?
4. To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp.
   • reeds swayed by the wind
   • judgment swayed by passion
5. (nautical) To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.
   • to sway up the yards
6. To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.
7. To have weight or influence.
8. To bear sway; to rule; to govern.

Anagrams

• -ways, Yaws, ways, yaws