swear Hear it!

swear Definition

swear (swer)

intransitive verb swore, sworn, swear·ing

  1. to make a solemn declaration with an appeal to God or to something held sacred for confirmation to swear on one's honor
  2. to make a solemn promise; vow
  3. to use profane or obscene language; curse
  4. Law to give evidence under oath

Etymology: ME swerien < OE swerian, akin to Ger schwören < IE base *swer-, to speak > OSlav svariti, to revile

transitive verb

  1. to declare solemnly in the name of God or of something held sacred
  2. to pledge or vow on oath
  3. to assert or promise with great conviction or emphasis
  4. to take (an oath) by swearing
  5. to administer a legal oath to

swear Related Forms

swearer noun

swear Idioms

swear by

  1. to name (something held sacred) in taking an oath
  2. to have great faith or confidence in

swear for

to give assurance for; guarantee

swear in

to administer an oath to (a person taking office, a witness, etc.)

swear off

to promise to give up, leave off, or renounce

swear out

to obtain (a warrant for someone's arrest) by making a charge under oath

swear Synonyms

swear

v.

  1. To curse

    blaspheme, utter profanity, cuss*; see curse 1, 2.

  2. To take an oath

    avow, affirm, depose, testify, state, vow, attest, warrant, vouch, assert, swear by, make an affidavit, give witness, cross one's heart.

  3. To declare

    assert, affirm, maintain; see declare 1, justify 2.

swear Usage Examples

Object

  • oath: You have a choice to affirm your allegiance or swear the oath to Almighty God.
  • allegiance: The Irish parliament will have to swear allegiance to the British crown.
  • affidavit: Chancery affidavit sworn by Sir John F. W. Herschel on 25 May 1854 in the case of Talbot v.
  • fealty: Edward therefore got every claimant to the throne to swear fealty to him for the realm of Scotland if he chose them.
  • revenge: The girl later died ( from " unhappiness " ), and Jefferson swore revenge on the one who took her away.
  • vengeance: Kate Rashid witnessed her brothers being killed one by one, and now she has sworn vengeance.

Preposition: on

oath: In my case I stated the time of purchase of my ticket and would be willing to swear on oath that I paid.

Preposition: at

referee: If he swore at the referee then he deserves everything that Laws punishes him with.

Adjective complement

blind: They swear blind that they never received my booking or credit card number for a " romantic dinner cruise for two " .

Modifying Another Word

  • solemnly: Posted by Stuart at 08:00 AM Comments i solemnly swear never to offer your services to fix an entire airport.
  • colorfully: Quot swear colorfully is loudly affirmed approved of his him about how.

Infinitive complement

  • avenge: Hamlet swears to avenge his father, but his resolution soon dissolves into doubts and hesitation.
  • uphold: Where is the obedience to the word of God that the churches normally swear to uphold?
  • obey: He won a great victory, and the nobles once more swore to obey him.
  • defend: Will not swear to defend the King against the Pope.

Preposition: in

context: While minimal swearing in context is tolerated, excessive swearing will result in your comment being removed.

Preposition: under

oath: I swore under oath the material facts as I have outlined above.

Preposition: like

trooper: Swore like a trooper all the way from King's Cross to Marylebone she did.

Preposition: by

  • altar: Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
  • heaven: And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.

Browse dictionary entries near swear

  1. SWbW
  2. SWbS
  3. Swaziland
  4. Swazi
  5. swaybacked
  6. sway
  7. swatter
  8. Swatow
  9. Swati
  10. swathe
  1. swear by
  2. swear for
  3. swear in
  4. swear off
  5. swear out
  6. swearing
  7. swearword
  8. sweat
  9. sweat bee
  10. sweat blood