sway

UK: /ˈsweɪ/ US: /sweɪ/ ,(swā)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sway /sweɪ/   v. 

1. to (cause to) move or swing from side to side: [no object]
   swaying to the music.
   [~ + object]
   The wind swayed the trees.
2. to influence (the mind, emotions, etc., or a person):
   [~ + object] The jurors were swayed by the lawyer's appeal.

n. [uncountable]

3. the act of swaying;
   swaying movement:
   the unsteady sway of the ferry.
4. dominating influence:
   He still holds sway over a large bureaucracy.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sway  (swā), v.i. 

1. to move or swing to and fro, as something fixed at one end or resting on a support.
2. to move or incline to one side or in a particular direction.
3. to incline in opinion, sympathy, tendency, etc.:
   She swayed toward conservatism.
4. to fluctuate or vacillate, as in opinion:
   His ideas swayed this way and that.
5. to wield power;
   exercise rule.

v.t. 

6. to cause to move to and fro or to incline from side to side.
7. to cause to move to one side or in a particular direction.
8. Nautical, Naval Terms to hoist or raise (a yard, topmast, or the like) (usually fol. by up).
9. to cause to fluctuate or vacillate.
10. to cause (the mind, emotions, etc., or a person) to incline or turn in a specified way;
    influence.
11. to cause to swerve, as from a purpose or a course of action:
    He swayed them from their plan.
12. to dominate;
    direct.
13. to wield, as a weapon or scepter.
14. to rule;
    govern.

n. 

15. the act of swaying;
    swaying movement.
16. rule;
    dominion:
    He held all Asia in his sway.
17. dominating power or influence:
    Many voters were under his sway.

• Old Norse sveigja to bend, sway (transitive); (noun, nominal) Middle English, derivative of the verb, verbal
• (verb, verbal) Middle English sweyen 1300–50

sway′a•ble, adj. 
sway′er, n. 
sway′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. wave. See swing ¹.
• 3. lean, bend, tend.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sway / sweɪ/ verb

1. (usually intr) to swing or cause to swing to and fro
2. (usually intr) to lean or incline or cause to lean or incline to one side or in different directions in turn
3. (usually intr) to vacillate or cause to vacillate between two or more opinions
4. to be influenced or swerve or influence or cause to swerve to or from a purpose or opinion
5. to rule or wield power (over)

noun

1. control; power
2. a swinging or leaning movement
3. dominion; governing authority
4. hold sway ⇒ to be master; reign

Etymology: 16th Century: probably from Old Norse sveigja to bend; related to Dutch zwaaien, Low German swājen