[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/sway/)

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# sway

verb (sway, sways, swayed, swaying); noun (sway)

«sway» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To sway is to move slowly from side to side, like trees in the wind or a person dancing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sway/#m1)
2. To sway someone is to change their opinion or make them decide something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sway/#m2)
3. Sway (noun) is power or influence over people: «hold sway». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sway/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories and poems «sway» describes gentle movement: «the trees swayed in the breeze», «the boat swayed on the waves». In science, tall buildings and bridges are built to sway a little in wind or earthquakes rather than break. In lessons on persuasion, an advert tries «to sway you» to buy something. Phrases: «sway in the wind», «sway to the music», «hold sway», «be swayed by».

### Examples

- The trees swayed in the wind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sway/#x1)
- We swayed to the music. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sway/#x2)
- The boat swayed from side to side. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sway/#x3)
- Tall towers sway slightly in strong winds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sway/#x4)
- Don't be swayed by adverts. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sway/#x5)
- His speech swayed the class to vote for him. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sway/#x6)
- The rope bridge swayed as we crossed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sway/#x7)
- The nest swayed to and fro, as they sat on the rim and cried. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sway/#x8)

### Note

Past: swayed. «Sway» is gentle; «swing» is a bigger movement on a fixed point. Being «swayed» by friends is not always bad, but think for yourself.

## In Jewish tradition

In Jotham's fable the trees will not give up good fruit to be king.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads the fable as a warning about Abimelech. Those who do good work refuse power, while a thorn is willing to rule.

### Examples

- But the fig-tree said unto them: Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruitage, and go to hold sway over the trees? (Prophets JDG.9.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sway/#x1)
- And the vine said unto them: Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to hold sway over the trees? (Prophets JDG.9.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sway/#x2)
- But the olive-tree said unto them: Should I leave my fatness, seeing that by me they honour God and man, and go to hold sway over the trees? (Prophets JDG.9.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sway/#x3)

### Note

Past: swayed. «Sway» is gentle; «swing» is a bigger movement on a fixed point. Being «swayed» by friends is not always bad, but think for yourself.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sway» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sway/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sway» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sway.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «sway» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sway/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sway» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/sway.html) on Mova free.