sway — to move slowly or rhythmically backward and forward or from side to side
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to move slowly or rhythmically backward and forward or from side to side
Pronunciation (IPA): /sweɪ/
Example Sentences
- The politician tried to sway voters with promises of free pizza every Friday
- The bamboo trees sway gracefully in the mountain wind
- Don't let his charm sway you into buying that overpriced smartphone
sway
VERB[/sweɪ/]
to move slowly or rhythmically backward and forward or from side to side
tall golden wheat stalks bend gracefully from left to right in a gentle breeze. The movement creates a wave-like pattern across the entire field. A light wind pushes the grass in one direction, then releases it to bend back the other way. A young girl with flowing hair stands among the wheat, her dress and hair moving in the same rhythmic pattern as the grass around her. A butterfly floats nearby, also carried gently back and forth by the same breeze. everything moving slowly and rhythmically backward and forward in the wind
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'sweyen' (14th century), derived from Old Norse 'sveigja' meaning 'to bend or curve.' The meaning evolved from physical movement to include mental influence or control.
Breakdown
sway (root meaning 'to bend, move back and forth') - no clear prefix or suffix structure
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The politician tried to sway voters with promises of free pizza every Friday”
“The bamboo trees sway gracefully in the mountain wind”
“Don't let his charm sway you into buying that overpriced smartphone”
“The cat's hypnotic tail sway convinced the dog to share his bone”
📚Related Words
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