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
verb transitive
5.
to declare solemnly in the name of God or of something held sacred
6.
to pledge or vow on oath
7.
to assert or promise with great conviction or emphasis
8.
to take (an oath) by swearing
9.
to administer a legal oath to
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈblasphemy
Idioms:
swear by
swear for
swear in
swear off
swear out
Derived forms
swearer (ˈswearer)
noun
Word origin
ME swerien < OE swerian, akin to Ger schwören < IE base *swer-, to speak > OSlav svariti, to revile
More idioms containing
swear
swear blind
swear like a trooper
swear up and down
Examples of 'swear' in a sentence
swear
He remembers the oath of allegiance he has sworn.
Andrew Bridgeford 1066: and the Hidden History of the Bayeux Tapestry (2004)
What about all the shouting and swearing?
The Sun (2010)
Jury members swear an oath to give a true verdict.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And then there are those who slyly attempt to make the commentator swear.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They were shouting and swearing at the officer.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It could all go horribly wrong if she has to swear an oath in court.
The Sun (2011)
There was a lot of swearing and shouting.
The Sun (2008)
The younger one then shouted and swore as he was dragged from the dock by prison officers.
The Sun (2008)
Some laugh off aggressive behaviour by other motorists while others swear or shout back.
The Sun (2011)
He swears and shouts more and seems so angry.
The Sun (2016)
But the shouting and swearing were only one side of her.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He that had been accustomed to curse and swear for many years, now swore no more.
Christianity Today (2000)
It's enough to make a saint swear.
The Sun (2008)
Why isn't one signature and swearing a blood oath good enough?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But it was me who walked up and swore the oath and answered the judge's questions.
Martin, April The Guide to Lesbian and Gay Parenting (1993)
A combination of the two would be enough to make many people swear off the box.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
By day it hides in the darkest treetops, seeking refuge from the fish eagles that are its sworn enemy.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We were both thrilled by the use of swearing, which seemed both judicious and reckless at the same time.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But as president, he knew he would be called by the monopoly police to swear under oath what had happened.
Frederic Alan Maxwell BAD BOY BALLMER (2002)
They would curse and swear.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She hasn't worked out that gratuitous swearing doesn't make you cool.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Don't accept him swearing but make sure you and your fiancé spend time with him each week so there's no risk he feels pushed out.
The Sun (2015)
Quotations
Swear not by the moon, the inconstant moonWilliam ShakespeareRomeo and Juliet
As he knew not what to say, he sworeLord ByronThe Island
In other languages
swear
British English: swear /swɛə/ VERB
If someone swears, they use language that is considered to be rude or offensive.
They swore at us and ran off.
American English: swear
Arabic: يَشْتِمُ
Brazilian Portuguese: xingar
Chinese: 宣誓
Croatian: psovati
Czech: nadávat
Danish: sværge
Dutch: vloeken
European Spanish: jurar
Finnish: kiroilla
French: jurer
German: fluchen
Greek: ορκίζομαι
Italian: giurare
Japanese: ののしる
Korean: 맹세하다
Norwegian: banne
Polish: przysiąc
European Portuguese: dizer palavrões
Romanian: a înjura
Russian: клясться
Latin American Spanish: jurar
Swedish: svära
Thai: สบถ
Turkish: küfretmek
Ukrainian: лаятися
Vietnamese: chửi thề
All related terms of 'swear'
swear by
If you swear by something, you believe that it can be relied on to have a particular effect .
swear for
to give assurance for; guarantee
swear in
When someone is sworn in , they formally promise to fulfil the duties of a new job or appointment .
swear off
to promise to abstain from (something)
swear out
to secure the issue of (a warrant for an arrest ) by making a charge under oath
swear blind
to insist that you are telling someone the truth, even though they are not sure whether or not to believe you. The American expression is swear up and down .
swear word
A swear word is a word which is considered to be rude or offensive . Swear words are usually used when people are angry .
swear up and down
to insist that you are telling the truth. The usual British expression is swear blind .
swear like a trooper
to use a lot of swearwords
Chinese translation of 'swear'
swear
(swɛəʳ)
Word forms:ptswore
Word forms:ppsworn
vi
(= curse) 咒骂(罵) (zhòumà)
vt
(= promise) 宣誓 (xuānshì)
to swear that ... (= promise) 发(發)誓 ... (fāshì ... ) (= confirm) 起誓保证(證) ... (qǐshì bǎozhèng ... )
to swear to do sth宣誓做某事 (xuānshì zuò mǒushì)
to swear an oath起誓 (qǐshì)
to be sworn to secrecy/silence发(發)誓保守秘(祕)密/保持沉默 (fāshì bǎoshǒu mìmì/bǎochí chénmò)
All related terms of 'swear'
swear by
▶ I swear by it/them 我极(極)其信赖(賴)某事/他们(們) wǒ jíqí xìnlài mǒushì/tāmen
swear in
( person ) 使宣誓就职(職) shǐ xuānshì jiùzhí
swear word
骂(罵)人的话(話) màrén de huà [ 句 jù ]
to swear an oath
起誓 qǐshì
to swear that ...
( promise ) 发(發)誓 ... fāshì ...
I swear by it/them
我极(極)其信赖(賴)某事/他们(們) wǒ jíqí xìnlài mǒushì/tāmen
to swear to do sth
宣誓做某事 xuānshì zuò mǒushì
1 (verb)
Definition
to use words considered obscene or blasphemous
It is wrong to swear and shout.
Synonyms
curse
He cursed continuously at passers-by.
cuss (informal)
blaspheme
He cursed and blasphemed to his last gasp.
turn the air blue (informal)
be foul-mouthed
take the Lord's name in vain
utter profanities
imprecate
2 (verb)
Definition
to give evidence on oath in a law court
Alan swore that he would do everything in his power to help us.
Synonyms
vow
She vowed that some day she would return to live in France.
promise
They promised they would deliver it on Friday.
take an oath
warrant
The ship owner must warrant that his vessel is seaworthy.
testify
Several eye witnesses testified that they had seen the fight.
depose
attest
Records attest to his long history of violence.
avow
a public statement avowing neutrality
give your word
state under oath
pledge yourself
3 (verb)
Definition
to state (something) earnestly
I swear I've told you all I know.
Synonyms
declare
They declare that there is no lawful impediment to the marriage.
assert
We assert that the bill violates the First Amendment.
affirm
`The place is a dump,' she affirmed.
swear blind
asseverate (formal)
Phrasal verbs
See swear by something
See swear someone in
Quotations
Swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon [William Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet]As he knew not what to say, he swore [Lord Byron – The Island]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affirm
Definition
to declare to be true
`The place is a dump,' she affirmed.
Synonyms
declare,
state,
maintain,
swear,
assert,
testify,
pronounce,
certify,
attest,
avow,
aver,
asseverate (formal),
avouch
in the sense of assert
Definition
to state or declare
We assert that the bill violates the First Amendment.
Synonyms
state,
argue,
maintain,
declare,
allege,
swear,
pronounce,
contend,
affirm,
profess,
attest,
predicate,
postulate,
avow,
aver,
asseverate (formal),
avouch (archaic)
in the sense of asseverate
Definition
to declare solemnly
Synonyms
declare,
state,
maintain,
protest,
swear,
assert,
pronounce,
affirm,
profess,
attest,
predicate,
avow,
aver,
avouch (archaic)
Synonyms of 'swear'
swear
Explore 'swear' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of attest
Definition
to affirm or prove the truth of
Records attest to his long history of violence.
Synonyms
testify,
show,
prove,
confirm,
display,
declare,
witness,
demonstrate,
seal,
swear,
exhibit,
warrant,
assert,
manifest,
give evidence,
invoke,
ratify,
affirm,
certify,
verify,
bear out,
substantiate,
corroborate,
bear witness,
authenticate,
vouch for,
evince (formal),
aver,
adjure
in the sense of avow
Definition
to state or affirm
a public statement avowing neutrality
Synonyms
state,
maintain,
declare,
allege,
recognize,
swear,
assert,
proclaim,
affirm,
profess,
aver,
asseverate
in the sense of blaspheme
Definition
to utter curses
He cursed and blasphemed to his last gasp.
Synonyms
curse,
swear,
abuse,
revile,
profane,
damn,
desecrate,
cuss (informal),
use bad language,
be foul-mouthed,
take the Lord's name in vain,
execrate,
anathematize
in the sense of promise
Definition
to undertake to give (something to someone)
They promised they would deliver it on Friday.
Synonyms
guarantee,
pledge,
vow,
swear,
contract,
assure,
undertake,
warrant,
plight (old-fashioned),
stipulate,
vouch,
take an oath,
give an undertaking to,
cross your heart,
give your word
in the sense of testify
Definition
to declare or give evidence under oath, esp. in court
Several eye witnesses testified that they had seen the fight.
Synonyms
bear witness,
state,
swear,
certify,
declare,
witness,
assert,
affirm,
depose,
attest,
corroborate,
vouch,
evince,
give testimony,
asseverate (formal)
in the sense of warrant
The ship owner must warrant that his vessel is seaworthy.