SWAY
Dictionary entry overview: What does sway mean?
• SWAY (noun)
The noun SWAY has 2 senses:
1. controlling influence
2. pitching dangerously to one side
Familiarity information: SWAY used as a noun is rare.
• SWAY (verb)
The verb SWAY has 4 senses:
1. move back and forth or sideways
2. move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner
3. win approval or support for
4. cause to move back and forth
Familiarity information: SWAY used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• SWAY (noun)
Meaning:
Controlling influence
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("sway" is a kind of...):
power; powerfulness (possession of controlling influence)
Meaning:
Pitching dangerously to one side
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
careen; sway; tilt; rock
Hypernyms ("sway" is a kind of...):
lurch; pitch; pitching (abrupt up-and-down motion (as caused by a ship or other conveyance))
• SWAY (verb)
Meaning:
Move back and forth or sideways
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
sway; rock; shake
Context examples:
the ship was rocking / the tall building swayed / She rocked back and forth on her feet
Hypernyms (to "sway" is one way to...):
move back and forth (move in one direction and then into the opposite direction)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sway"):
roll (move, rock, or sway from side to side)
nutate (rock, sway, or nod; usually involuntarily)
swag (sway heavily or unsteadily)
totter (move without being stable, as if threatening to fall)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Sentence examples:
The crowds sway in the streets
The streets sway with crowds
Meaning:
Move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
sway; swing
Context example:
He swung back
Hypernyms (to "sway" is one way to...):
move back and forth (move in one direction and then into the opposite direction)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sway"):
waver; weave (sway to and fro)
lash (lash or flick about sharply)
oscillate; vibrate (move or swing from side to side regularly)
brachiate (swing from one hold to the next)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Win approval or support for
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
persuade; sway; carry
Context examples:
Carry all before one / His speech did not sway the voters
Hypernyms (to "sway" is one way to...):
act upon; influence; work (have and exert influence or effect)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Meaning:
Cause to move back and forth
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
rock; sway
Context examples:
rock the cradle / rock the baby / the wind swayed the trees gently
Hypernyms (to "sway" is one way to...):
displace; move (cause to move, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
