swear to


swear to

1. To make someone promise to maintain or uphold some state or condition. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "swear" and "to." She told me about her plans to elope and then swore me to secrecy. We were allowed to test out the product ourselves, but we've been sworn to silence about details of its appearance or functionality.2. To make a pledge or promise about the state of something. I can't swear to its accuracy, but if true, this report paints a bleak picture for the company. That's the gist of what was said, though I won't swear to any specific details.3. To make a pledge or promise to give something to someone or something. In order to obtain citizenship, you must swear allegiance to the country, its government, and its laws. I swear fealty to you, my lord.See also: swear

swear someone to something

to cause someone to take an oath pledging something, such as silence or secrecy, about something. I swore Larry to secrecy, but he told anyway. We were sworn to silence about the new product.See also: swear

swear something to someone

to pledge or promise something to someone. I had to swear my allegiance to the general before I could become one of his bodyguards. We swore our loyalty to our country.See also: swear

swear to something

to claim that what one says is absolutely true. It is true. I swear to it. I think I have remembered it all, but I couldn't swear to it.See also: swear

swear to

v. To utter or bind someone to some oath: She swore her friends to secrecy before telling them what happened. The man wanted to confess, but he was sworn to silence.See also: swear