Sway

/ˈsweɪ̯/ · noun

Meaning

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

Definitions by Sense

1. The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.
2. A rocking or swinging motion.
3. Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
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. (automotive) The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion.
8. Synonym of sweet flag (“Acorus calamus”)

Example Sentences

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

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.

[…] the slowly dawning realisation that, as the billionaire venture capitalist Michael Moritz put it, they have “no sway” over what they unleashed.

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.

sway to the music

The trees swayed in the breeze.

Synonyms for sway

Antonyms for sway

Related Words

Word Forms

• sways
• swaying
• swayed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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