swear
/sweə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /swer/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈswer/ (ame, mw)
swear — verb
- swearpresent simple I / you / we / they
- swearshe / she / it
- sworepast simple
- swornpast participle
- swearing-ing form
1. to use offensive or rude words, especially when you are angry or want to express
to use offensive or rude words, especially when you are angry or want to express strong feelings
Ryo swore loudly after he hit his thumb with a hammer.
swear + adverb of manner
The driver in front cut her off, so Élise swore and sounded the horn.
The children were told not to swear at each other during the game.
Sofia's grandfather never swears, even when he feels frustrated.
It is against school rules to swear inside the classroom.
- curse
more formal or literary; less common in everyday speech
- cuss
informal, mainly American English
- use bad language
a polite way to refer to the action without repeating the words
文法句型
swear
swear at [someone/something]
用法筆記
Intransitive only — you cannot 'swear someone' in this sense. Use 'swear at someone' to name the target of the bad language.
常見錯誤
2. to promise something in a very serious way, so that the person hearing you can b
to promise something in a very serious way, so that the person hearing you can be sure you mean it, or to make a formal pledge before an official body such as a judge
Hari swore that he had not taken the money from his brother's wallet.
swear + that-clause for asserting truth
Before giving evidence, witnesses must swear to tell the truth in court.
David swore to keep the secret, and he never told anyone.
Roya swore an oath of loyalty when she joined the army.
The prime minister swore to protect the rights of all citizens.
- deny
to say something is not true, the opposite of asserting it under oath
文法句型
swear + that-clause
swear + to-infinitive
swear (an oath)
swear to do something
用法筆記
This sense can take a that-clause ('swear that…') for asserting truth, or a to-infinitive ('swear to do something') for promising a future action. The phrase 'swear an oath' is a fixed collocation used in legal and formal contexts. Distinguish from sense 1 (USE BAD LANGUAGE): if the object is a person, check whether 'at' follows — 'swear at someone' = curse, 'swear someone to secrecy' = make them promise.
常見錯誤
swear — noun
1. a rude or offensive word that people use when they are angry or want to show str
a rude or offensive word that people use when they are angry or want to show strong feelings
Otis let out a swear when he saw the scratch on his new car.
The film was full of swears, so it was not suitable for young children.
countable noun: 'a swear' / 'swears' (plural)
Sana taught her parrot to say a swear, which amused all her visitors.
Zuri's grandmother told her to stop using swears when she feels angry.
A list of rude swears was scratched into the top of the old wooden desk.
- swear word
more formal and clearer; preferred in writing
- curse
common; can also be a verb
- oath
formal or old-fashioned; also means a solemn promise
- expletive
formal; used in linguistic or academic contexts
文法句型
a swear
swears (plural)
用法筆記
Used as a countable noun — 'a swear', 'two swears'. More common in informal British English than American English, where 'curse word' or 'cuss word' is more typical. In formal writing, 'swear word' is preferred over the bare noun 'swear'.