sway Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun controlling influence
  2. noun pitching dangerously to one side
    tilt; careen; rock.
  3. verb move back and forth or sideways
    shake; rock.
    • the ship was rocking
    • the tall building swayed
    • She rocked back and forth on her feet
  4. verb move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner
    swing.
    • He swung back
  5. verb win approval or support for
    carry; persuade.
    • Carry all before one
    • His speech did not sway the voters
  6. verb cause to move back and forth
    rock.
    • rock the cradle
    • rock the baby
    • the wind swayed the trees gently

WordNet

Sway transitive verb
Etymology
OE. sweyen, Icel. sveigja, akin to E. swing; cf. D. zwaaijen to wield, swing. See Swing, and cf. Swag, v. i.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Swayed ; present participle & verbal noun Swaying
Definitions
  1. To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield; as, to sway the scepter.
    As sparkles from the anvil rise, When heavy hammers on the wedge are swayed. Spenser.
  2. To influence or direct by power and authority; by persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide.
    The will of man is by his reason swayed. Shak.
    She could not sway her house. Shak.
    This was the race To sway the world, and land and sea subdue. Dryden.
  3. To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp; as, reeds swayed by wind; judgment swayed by passion.
    As bowls run true by being made On purpose false, and to be swayed. Hudibras.
    Let not temporal and little advantages sway you against a more durable interest. Tillotson.
  4. (Naut.) To hoist; as, to sway up the yards. Syn. -- To bias; rule; govern; direct; influence; swing; move; wave; wield.
Sway intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.
    The balance sways on our part. Bacon.
  2. To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward.
  3. To have weight or influence.
    The example of sundry churches . . . doth sway much. Hooker.
  4. To bear sway; to rule; to govern.
    Hadst thou swayed as kings should do. Shak.
Sway noun
Definitions
  1. The act of swaying; a swaying motion; the swing or sweep of a weapon.
    With huge two-handed sway brandished aloft. Milton.
  2. Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; as, the sway of desires. A. Tucker.
  3. Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.
    Expert When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway Of battle. Milton.
  4. Rule; dominion; control. Cowper.
    When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway, The post of honor is a private station. Addison.
  5. A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work. Prov. Eng. Halliwell. Syn. -- Rule; dominion; power; empire; control; influence; direction; preponderance; ascendency.

Webster 1913