From earlier swey (“to fall, swoon”), from Middle English sweyen, from Old English *swǣġan (“to bend, bow”), from Proto-West Germanic *swaigijan, from Proto-Germanic *swaigijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *sweh₁-
See also Saterland Frisian swooie (“to swing, wave, wobble”); also Lithuanian svai̇̃gti (“to become giddy or dizzy”), the second element of Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌-𐬱𐬑𐬎𐬀𐬑𐬙𐬀 (paⁱri-šxuaxta, “to surround”), Sanskrit स्वजते (svájate, “he embraces, enfolds”).
The noun derived from the verb.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.
(countable, uncountable) A rocking or swinging motion.
The old song caused a little sway in everyone in the room.
(countable, uncountable) Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
I doubt I'll hold much sway with someone so powerful.
[…] the slowly dawning realisation that, as the billionaire venture capitalist Michael Moritz put it, they have “no sway” over what they unleashed. 2025 June 9, Gaby Hinsliff, quoting Michael Moritz, “Trump has unleashed something terrifying in the US – that even he may be powerless to control”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
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. 2021 April 28, Tara Siegel Bernard, “Trading Stock Tips on TikTok, Newbies Are Deeply Invested in Learning”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
(countable, uncountable) Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.
Prayuth's return as prime minister takes Thailand back to 1980s. Military still holds sway in a democracy that has yet to mature. 2019 June 8, Toru Takahashi, “Prayuth's return as prime minister takes Thailand back to 1980s”, in Nikkei Asian Review, Nikkei Inc, retrieved 09 Jun 2019:
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. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
(countable, uncountable) A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.
(countable, uncountable) The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion.
(countable, uncountable) Synonym of sweet flag (“Acorus calamus”)
de Beeinflussung (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · it tentennamento (a rocking or swinging motion) · fi paino (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · es poderío (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · it oscillazione (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · gl abalo (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · fr autorité (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · gl balouco (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · fr influence (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · fi heilunta (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · hu ráhatás (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · bg люлеене (a rocking or swinging motion) · ga ardréim (rule; dominion; control) · gl vango (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · it governo (rule; dominion; control) · de Gewicht (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · fi huojuminen (a rocking or swinging motion) · pl władza (rule; dominion; control) · fr prépondérance (preponderance; turn or cast of balance) · it fluttuazione (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · ru власть (rule; dominion; control) · fr basculement (a rocking or swinging motion) · hu hintázás (a rocking or swinging motion) · de Mitschwingen (a rocking or swinging motion) · hu lendülés (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · it influenza (preponderance; turn or cast of balance) · de Schwenken (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · fi heilahdus (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · it ondeggiamento (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · it spinta (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · de Macht (rule; dominion; control) · ru кача́ние (a rocking or swinging motion) · hu ringatózás (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · de Macht (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · fi keinunta (a rocking or swinging motion) · de Einfluss (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · ru кача́ние (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · nb svai (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · de Schwingen (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · fr balancement (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · it preponderanza (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · it inclinazione (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · de Beherrschung (rule; dominion; control) · hu hullámzás (a rocking or swinging motion) · fi vaikutusvalta (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · it dondolio (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · fi huitaisu (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · fr balancement (a rocking or swinging motion) · fr oscillation (a rocking or swinging motion) · es influjo (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · fr poids (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · fr oscillation (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · hu lendítés (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · hu ingás (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · hu befolyás (rule; dominion; control) · es influencia (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · bg власт (rule; dominion; control) · ga ardréim (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · fo sveiggj (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · fi painoarvo (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · de Hin- und Herschwingen (a rocking or swinging motion) · it controllo (rule; dominion; control) · bg люлеене (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · de Herrschaft (rule; dominion; control) · de Übermacht (preponderance; turn or cast of balance) · hu lendülés (a rocking or swinging motion) · de Kontrolle (rule; dominion; control) · fi hallinta (rule; dominion; control) · hu ringatózás (a rocking or swinging motion) · es preponderancia (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side) · fi valta (rule; dominion; control) · de Übergewicht (preponderance; turn or cast of balance) · es balanceo (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · fi heiluminen (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · hu hullámzás (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · fi huojunta (a rocking or swinging motion) · nl zwenken (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · da svaje (the act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon) · it dominio (rule; dominion; control) · bg олюляване (a rocking or swinging motion) · fi keinahdus (a rocking or swinging motion) · de Übergewichtigkeit (preponderance; turn or cast of balance) · bg влияние (influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side)
From earlier swey (“to fall, swoon”), from Middle English sweyen, from Old English *swǣġan (“to bend, bow”), from Proto-West Germanic *swaigijan, from Proto-Germanic *swaigijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *sweh₁-
See also Saterland Frisian swooie (“to swing, wave, wobble”); also Lithuanian svai̇̃gti (“to become giddy or dizzy”), the second element of Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌-𐬱𐬑𐬎𐬀𐬑𐬙𐬀 (paⁱri-šxuaxta, “to surround”), Sanskrit स्वजते (svájate, “he embraces, enfolds”).
The noun derived from the verb.
Meanings
(intransitive) To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock.
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 bees; she saw a crimson cardinal winging through the foliage, and amorous tanagers flashing like scarlet flames athwart the pines. 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “Afterglow”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 168:
The trees swayed in the breeze.
The screen door slams, Mary's dress sways / Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays 1975, Bruce Springsteen, “Thunder Road”, in Born to Run, performed by Bruce Springsteen:
sway to the music
(transitive) To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield.
As sparckles from the Anduile vse to fly, / When heauie hammers on the wedge are swaid 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 42:
to sway the sceptre
(transitive) To influence or direct by power, authority, persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. Compare persuade.
This was the race / To sway the world, and land and sea subdue. 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
After all this time […] the woman who endured all that by focusing on her hit list can be swayed from her course by the prospect of her family and her home. 2017 July 23, Brandon Nowalk, “The great game begins with a bang on Game Of Thrones (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club:
Do you think you can sway their decision?
(transitive) To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; to warp.
judgment swayed by passion
Let not temporal and little advantages sway you against a more durable interest. 1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC:
reeds swayed by the wind
(transitive) To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.
to sway up the yards
To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.
euen in these Personall Respects, the Ballance swayes on our part: […] a. 1627 (date written), Francis [Bacon], “Considerations Touching a Warre with Spaine. […]”, in William Rawley, editor, Certaine Miscellany Works of the Right Honourable Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount S. Alban. […], London: […] I. Hauiland for Humphrey Robinson, […], published 1629, →OCLC, page 64:
To have weight or influence.
The example of sundry churches […] doth sway much. [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
To bear sway; to rule; to govern.
Hadst thou swayed as kings should do. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v]:
it tendenza (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · fi vaarua (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · cs vychýlit (to be drawn to one side by weight or influence) · de sich durchsetzen (to bear sway; to rule; to govern) · fi kallistua (to be drawn to one side by weight or influence) · mi kōngangengange (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · az yırğalanmaq (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · it agitare (to move or wield with the hand) · hu ringatózik (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de schunkeln (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · ba һелтәү (to move or wield with the hand) · ba һелкеү (to move or wield with the hand) · it tentennare (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · it sbattere (to move or wield with the hand) · de sich wiegen (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · es tongonearse (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · izh häilyä (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de aufwinden (nautical: to hoist into position) · fi huojua (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · vi đung đưa (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · ja 揺れる (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · es denguear (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · bg повлиявам (to influence or direct by power and authority) · de beeinflussen (to influence or direct by power and authority) · fi vaikuttaa (to have weight or influence) · hu imbolyog (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · cmn 搖擺 /摇摆 (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de anstoßen (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · mi tītahataha (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · pl trząść (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · hu lóbál (to move or wield with the hand) · izh häylyä (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · ms koiri (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · hu hintázik (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de hissen (Flagge) (nautical: to hoist into position) · de regieren (to bear sway; to rule; to govern) · gl abalar (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · fi huojahdella (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · fi hallita (to bear sway; to rule; to govern) · es cantonearse (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · it ondeggiare (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de beherrschen (to influence or direct by power and authority) · vi đu (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · sk pohupovať sa (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · mi whatiwhati (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · mi raumaewa (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · fo sveiggja (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · it piegamento (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · bg властвам (to bear sway; to rule; to govern) · fi vaikuttaa (to influence or direct by power and authority) · mi tīoioi (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · ba һелкетеү (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · it orientamento (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · es balancear (to move or wield with the hand) · sv vaja (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · fr influencer (to have weight or influence) · hy երերալ (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de beeinflussen (to have weight or influence) · nb svinge (to move or wield with the hand) · hu hullámzik (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · nl zwaaien (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · izh löyhyttää (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · fi keinua (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de beeinflussen (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · de anschnipsen (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · hu inog (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · ca gronxar-se (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de schwanken (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · bg залюлявам (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · gl vanguear (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de sich verziehen (to be drawn to one side by weight or influence) · ca balandrejar-se (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · fi heilauttaa (to move or wield with the hand) · de schwingen (to move or wield with the hand) · es mimbrear (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · fr balancer (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · it inclinazione (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · cs naklonit (to be drawn to one side by weight or influence) · grc πάλλω (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · es balancear (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de schwenken (to move or wield with the hand) · fi heiluttaa (to move or wield with the hand) · es incidir (to influence or direct by power and authority) · fi keinahdella (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · ba һелкенеү (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · ru кача́ться (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · ca balancejar (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de schaukeln (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · es bambolear (to move or wield with the hand) · fi nostaa (nautical: to hoist into position) · it inclinarsi (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · it scuotersi (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · sk prevažovať (to be drawn to one side by weight or influence) · es contonearse (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · mi ori (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · fi vilkuttaa (to move or wield with the hand) · hu himbálózik (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · hu suhint (to move or wield with the hand) · la vacillō (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · fi heiluttaa (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · ru кача́ть (to move or wield with the hand) · de dirigieren (to influence or direct by power and authority) · km យោល (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · fi keinuttaa (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · es cimbrarse (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · ga téigh i bhfeidhm ar (to influence or direct by power and authority) · it sventolare (to move or wield with the hand) · ba бәүелеү (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de hin- und herschwingen (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de anrubbeln (to cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward) · bg люлея се (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · bg люлея (to move or wield with the hand) · izh horjua (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · hu ring (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · fr influencer (to influence or direct by power and authority) · pt balançar (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · fi hallita (to influence or direct by power and authority) · es bambolear (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · eo balanci (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · mi tūohu (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · nb svaie (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de herrschen (to bear sway; to rule; to govern) · it scuotere (to move or wield with the hand) · cmn 搖晃 /摇晃 (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · af swaaie (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · de hochzehen (nautical: to hoist into position) · es mecerse (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock) · mi whakapakepake (to influence or direct by power and authority) · pl rządzić (to influence or direct by power and authority) · it agitarsi (to move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock)