Sway
verb
To move slowly from side to side or to cause to do this.
The trees were swaying in the wind.
verb
To control or influence the behavior or decisions of someone or something.
The evidence presented by the defense swayed the jury.
noun
Control or influence over someone or something.
The party maintained an unchallenged sway over the city for years.
Usage tips
Formal
noun
Movement from side to side.
The sway of the ship made him feel seasick.
verb
To move slowly from side to side or to cause to do this.
The trees were swaying in the wind.
verb
To control or influence the behavior or decisions of someone or something.
The evidence presented by the defense swayed the jury.
noun
Control or influence over someone or something.
The party maintained an unchallenged sway over the city for years.
Usage tips
Formal
noun
Movement from side to side.
The sway of the ship made him feel seasick.
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Physical movement
Use 'sway' to describe objects or people moving rhythmically side to side.
The dancer's hips swayed to the beat.
Pro Tip 2/2Steady motion
'Sway' indicates a movement that's often gentle and steady rather than abrupt and fast.
The hammock swayed gently in the breeze.
Pro Tip 1/2Physical movement
Use 'sway' to describe objects or people moving rhythmically side to side.
The dancer's hips swayed to the beat.
Pro Tip 2/2Steady motion
'Sway' indicates a movement that's often gentle and steady rather than abrupt and fast.
The hammock swayed gently in the breeze.
Pro Tip 1/2Physical movement
Use 'sway' to describe objects or people moving rhythmically side to side.
The dancer's hips swayed to the beat.
Pro Tip 2/2Steady motion
'Sway' indicates a movement that's often gentle and steady rather than abrupt and fast.
The hammock swayed gently in the breeze.
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Video examples
The power of introverts...
favorite place in the world when I was growing up partly because it was filled with his very gentle very courtly presence and partly because it was filled with books I mean literally every table every chair in this apartment had yielded its original function to now serve as a surface for swaying stacks of books just like the rest of my family my
Video examples
The power of introverts...
that was my favorite place in the world when I was growing up, partly because it was filled with his very gentle, very courtly presence and partly because it was filled with books. I mean literally every table, every chair in this apartment had yielded its original function to now serve as a surface for swaying stacks of books.
Video examples
How to spot a misleading...
When they're used well, graphs can help us intuitively grasp complex data. But as visual software has enabled more usage of graphs throughout all media, it's also made them easier to use in a careless or dishonest way. So the next time you see a graph, don't be swayed by the lines and curves. Look at the labels, the numbers,
Video examples
What's hidden among the...
pulled himself up and scurried upwards. He was free climbing without ropes or a harness, one misstep meant death. But up he went, and when he reached the peak, he swayed and leapt across the gap of space onto a branch of the target tree and into a world never seen before. His buddy Marwood followed him up,
Video examples
See invisible motion,...
Maybe we could use those motions to tell us something about our thoughts or our emotions. We can also magnify small mechanical movements, like vibrations in engines, that can help engineers detect and diagnose machinery problems, or see how our buildings and structures sway in the wind and react to forces.
Video examples
Fathers That Give Birth...
around the green stalks and sway like the weeds the divers carefully measure each little seahorse and record observations and notebooks the fish are replaced where they're found to minimize any disruption in their feeding and mating habits pairs mate for life
Video examples
Gun violence as told by...
climbing a mountain every day but it was important work this is exactly why I became a journalist would it sway public opinion or a spark legislative change probably not but it would start a conversation about guns between each
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
i mean i thought i knew about the display of ostrich and it's very dramatic i mean the male comes and and opens his wings and then sways his head from side to side and ruffles and it's very dramatic stuff
Video examples
Earthquakes 101 PIPE...
days some earthquake prone areas have adapted various ways to protect their communities buildings and bridges are designed to sway rather than break when an earthquake occurs the public is
Video examples
Sir Martin Rees: Earth...
But we'd like to know the synthesis symbolized at the very top. The micro-world of the quantum is understood. On the right hand side, gravity holds sway. Einstein explained that.
Video examples
The power of introverts...
favorite place in the world when I was growing up partly because it was filled with his very gentle very courtly presence and partly because it was filled with books I mean literally every table every chair in this apartment had yielded its original function to now serve as a surface for swaying stacks of books just like the rest of my family my
Video examples
The power of introverts...
that was my favorite place in the world when I was growing up, partly because it was filled with his very gentle, very courtly presence and partly because it was filled with books. I mean literally every table, every chair in this apartment had yielded its original function to now serve as a surface for swaying stacks of books.
Video examples
How to spot a misleading...
When they're used well, graphs can help us intuitively grasp complex data. But as visual software has enabled more usage of graphs throughout all media, it's also made them easier to use in a careless or dishonest way. So the next time you see a graph, don't be swayed by the lines and curves. Look at the labels, the numbers,
Video examples
What's hidden among the...
pulled himself up and scurried upwards. He was free climbing without ropes or a harness, one misstep meant death. But up he went, and when he reached the peak, he swayed and leapt across the gap of space onto a branch of the target tree and into a world never seen before. His buddy Marwood followed him up,
Video examples
See invisible motion,...
Maybe we could use those motions to tell us something about our thoughts or our emotions. We can also magnify small mechanical movements, like vibrations in engines, that can help engineers detect and diagnose machinery problems, or see how our buildings and structures sway in the wind and react to forces.
Video examples
Fathers That Give Birth...
around the green stalks and sway like the weeds the divers carefully measure each little seahorse and record observations and notebooks the fish are replaced where they're found to minimize any disruption in their feeding and mating habits pairs mate for life
Video examples
Gun violence as told by...
climbing a mountain every day but it was important work this is exactly why I became a journalist would it sway public opinion or a spark legislative change probably not but it would start a conversation about guns between each
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
i mean i thought i knew about the display of ostrich and it's very dramatic i mean the male comes and and opens his wings and then sways his head from side to side and ruffles and it's very dramatic stuff
Video examples
Earthquakes 101 PIPE...
days some earthquake prone areas have adapted various ways to protect their communities buildings and bridges are designed to sway rather than break when an earthquake occurs the public is
Video examples
Sir Martin Rees: Earth...
But we'd like to know the synthesis symbolized at the very top. The micro-world of the quantum is understood. On the right hand side, gravity holds sway. Einstein explained that.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Channing Tatum
American Actor
I've been on so many movies. Generally, I haven't gotten to be on the ground level. As of two years ago, in 'Dear John,' I got to really be on the ground floor. I wasn't a producer. I felt like I put the work in, and I did have a lot of sway on what got fixed, reshoots, so on and so forth. It felt really good.
Quote examples
Steven Yeun
South Korean Actor
I like documentaries because there's nothing to nitpick or criticize about scenes if they aren't just right. It's about honesty and real-life circumstances coming out. Granted it can be swayed by how people tell that story, but overall, I like it because it is true.
Quote examples
Anthony Yarde
British Athlete
Yes, my mum had a huge influence on my life and the love she had for me, the love we had between each other, did sway me to not do bad things. Sometimes they say the street raised you, but my mum did the raising.
Quote examples
Billy Graham
American Clergyman
Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do.
Quote examples
Rasika Dugal
Indian Actress
Nothing is more important to me than the work itself. If I feel I am getting swayed too much, I take a step back... My focus is also on the performance.
Quote examples
Orison Swett Marden
American Writer
Charm of personality is a divine gift that sways the strongest characters and sometimes even controls the destinies of nations.
Quote examples
Donatella Versace
Italian Designer
It's no good being too easily swayed by people's opinions. You have to believe in yourself.
Quote examples
Ally Brooke
American Musician
There's going to be people that try to sway you to do things that you shouldn't do.
Quote examples
Jean Francois Paul de Gondi
French Clergyman
Nothing sways the stupid more than arguments they can't understand.
Quote examples
El-P
American Musician
Darkness does not truly have sway. I think that it's weak.
Quote examples
Channing Tatum
American Actor
I've been on so many movies. Generally, I haven't gotten to be on the ground level. As of two years ago, in 'Dear John,' I got to really be on the ground floor. I wasn't a producer. I felt like I put the work in, and I did have a lot of sway on what got fixed, reshoots, so on and so forth. It felt really good.
Quote examples
Steven Yeun
South Korean Actor
I like documentaries because there's nothing to nitpick or criticize about scenes if they aren't just right. It's about honesty and real-life circumstances coming out. Granted it can be swayed by how people tell that story, but overall, I like it because it is true.
Quote examples
Anthony Yarde
British Athlete
Yes, my mum had a huge influence on my life and the love she had for me, the love we had between each other, did sway me to not do bad things. Sometimes they say the street raised you, but my mum did the raising.
Quote examples
Billy Graham
American Clergyman
Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do.
Quote examples
Rasika Dugal
Indian Actress
Nothing is more important to me than the work itself. If I feel I am getting swayed too much, I take a step back... My focus is also on the performance.
Quote examples
Orison Swett Marden
American Writer
Charm of personality is a divine gift that sways the strongest characters and sometimes even controls the destinies of nations.
Quote examples
Donatella Versace
Italian Designer
It's no good being too easily swayed by people's opinions. You have to believe in yourself.
Quote examples
Ally Brooke
American Musician
There's going to be people that try to sway you to do things that you shouldn't do.
Quote examples
Jean Francois Paul de Gondi
French Clergyman
Nothing sways the stupid more than arguments they can't understand.
Quote examples
El-P
American Musician
Darkness does not truly have sway. I think that it's weak.
Example 1 of 10
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