swayed
swayed — verb
- swayedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- swayeds3rd person singular
- swayeding-ing form
- swayededpast simple
1. moved or leaned gently from one side to the other, either because of wind or a p
moved or leaned gently from one side to the other, either because of wind or a person's own action, often in a smooth, rhythmic way
The tall palm trees swayed gently in the warm afternoon breeze.
collocation: sway + adverb (gently) + in + breeze
Wei swayed to the slow music with his eyes half closed.
sway + to + music (rhythmic movement)
The old wooden bridge swayed under the weight of the passing truck.
Lakshmi felt dizzy and swayed on her feet before her friend caught her arm.
Rows of tall sunflowers swayed in the wind across the field near the farmhouse.
- remained still
no motion at all
文法句型
sway + adverb/preposition
sway + to + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used with adverbs like 'gently', 'slowly', or 'rhythmically' to describe the manner of movement. The subject is typically a person, tree, building, or vehicle.
常見錯誤
2. made something shift repeatedly from its upright or steady position by applying
made something shift repeatedly from its upright or steady position by applying force or setting it in motion
A sudden gust of wind swayed the tops of the bamboo trees near the house.
wind + swayed + object (tree tops)
Sven gently swayed the hammock until his daughter stopped crying and fell asleep.
person + swayed + object + adverb (gently)
The earthquake swayed the tall buildings dangerously for almost thirty seconds.
Rafael swayed the heavy ladder carefully to reach the loose tile on the roof.
- rocked
suggests a more deliberate, regular back-and-forth motion, often of a cradle or boat
- swung
implies a suspended object moving in an arc from a fixed point
- oscillated
more technical; describes regular, repeating movement in physics or mechanics
- stabilized
made something steady and not moving
文法句型
sway + object + adverb
用法筆記
The direct object is something that can physically bend or move at its base — trees, people, ladders, vehicles. Not used for small handheld objects (use 'shake' or 'wave' instead).
常見錯誤
3. convinced someone to change their opinion, belief, or decision, especially throu
convinced someone to change their opinion, belief, or decision, especially through strong argument, emotion, or pressure
The jury was swayed by the witness's emotional testimony about the accident.
passive: be swayed + by + noun (testimony)
Ziad refused to be swayed by the salesman's promises of huge discounts.
passive negative: refuse to be swayed + by + noun phrase
Tariro's decision to study in Canada was swayed by the generous scholarship offer.
Eric tried to sway the committee by presenting new data on the project's benefits.
Amihan knew her friend was confused, so she did not try to sway her decision.
- influenced
broader meaning; can be gradual or indirect, not necessarily changing a firm position
- persuaded
more direct and deliberate; implies active reasoning or argument
- convinced
focuses on changing someone's belief through logic or evidence
- affected
much broader; can refer to any kind of impact, not just opinions or decisions
- dissuaded
convinced someone NOT to do something
- discouraged
made someone less willing to do something
文法句型
be swayed + by + noun
sway + someone + into + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Very common in the passive voice ('was swayed / were swayed'). The agent causing the change is typically introduced by 'by'. The active voice ('She swayed him') is less common and sounds more deliberate.
常見錯誤
swayed — noun
1. a slow, gentle movement from one side to the other, especially of something atta
a slow, gentle movement from one side to the other, especially of something attached at its base
The gentle sway of the train made it easy for the baby to fall asleep.
the sway of + train (vehicle motion)
Jiwoo closed her eyes and enjoyed the slow sway of the ship crossing the harbour.
The dancer's hips moved with a natural sway that captivated the audience.
A sudden sway of the ladder made him grab the gutter for support.
- rocking
suggests a more deliberate or regular back-and-forth motion
- swinging
implies a suspended object moving in an arc
- oscillation
more technical; describes regular side-to-side movement in science
- stillness
absence of motion
文法句型
the sway of + noun
用法筆記
Typically used with an adjective ('gentle', 'slow', 'sudden') and followed by 'of + noun' to describe what is swaying. Uncountable — do not say 'a sway' (except in the phrase 'a sudden sway').
2. the power or authority to control or strongly influence someone or something
the power or authority to control or strongly influence someone or something
The chief judge held great sway in the courtroom, and everyone listened carefully.
hold sway (idiomatic: have authority)
The company's sway over the local economy was almost absolute for decades.
sway over + noun (domain of influence)
Many teenagers fall under the sway of fashion trends on social media platforms.
The old priest's sway over the village came from years of helping families in need.
- powerlessness
lack of control or influence
文法句型
under + possessive + sway
hold sway (over + noun)
in + possessive + sway
用法筆記
Common in fixed phrases: 'hold sway' (to have power), 'under the sway of' (being controlled by), 'come under the sway of' (become influenced by). More formal than 'influence' or 'control'.