Definition

1. Noun:

   • A swinging or rocking motion from side to side: The act of moving slowly and rhythmically back and forth or side to side.
   • Power to influence or control; dominion: Controlling authority or influence over someone or something.

2. Verb:

   • To move slowly and rhythmically back and forth or side to side: To swing, rock, or lean from one side to another.
   • To cause something to move in such a way: To make an object swing or rock gently.
   • To influence or change someone's opinion or feelings: To persuade or affect someone's judgment or decision.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The gentle sway of the branches was calming.
  • The dictator held absolute sway over the country for decades.

• Verb:

  • The dancers swayed to the music.
  • Strong winds swayed the tall tower.
  • No argument could sway her from her decision.

Advanced Usage

• "To hold sway": To have power, influence, or control.
  • Traditional beliefs still hold sway in the remote village.
• "To be under the sway of": To be controlled or heavily influenced by.
  • He was completely under the sway of his emotions.

Variants and Related Words

• Swayback (n): An excessive inward curvature of the lower back (lordosis), often used to describe horses or posture.
  • The old horse had a pronounced swayback.
• Swaybacked (adj): Having a swayback.
  • The swaybacked mare was retired from work.

Synonyms

• Noun (motion): Swing, rock, oscillation.
• Noun (influence): Influence, control, dominion, power.
• Verb (move): Swing, rock, oscillate, undulate.
• Verb (influence): Influence, persuade, affect, convince.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Sway" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "Hold sway": To be in control or have a dominant influence.
  • Reason must hold sway over impulse.

Noun

1. pitching dangerously to one side
2. controlling influence

Verb

1. cause to move back and forth
   • rock the cradle
   • rock the baby
   • the wind swayed the trees gently
2. win approval or support for
   • Carry all before one
   • His speech did not sway the voters
3. move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner
   • He swung back
4. move back and forth or sideways
   • the ship was rocking
   • the tall building swayed
   • She rocked back and forth on her feet