Definition of swear - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
declare truthtr./intr. declare something is true with emphasistr./intr.
- I swear I saw him at the party.
2.
communicationtr./intr. make a solemn promise or oathtr./intr.
- He swore to tell the truth in court.
3.
- She swore loudly when she stubbed her toe.
4.
oath administrationtr. administer an oath to someonetr.
- The judge swore in the new witness.
Noun
1.
- He muttered a swear under his breath.
2.
promiseact of making a solemn promise
- The swear was taken seriously by all present..
Expressions with swear
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use offensive words towards someone or something
He would often swear at the television when his team lost.
make a promise by linking pinky fingers
They pinky swear to keep each other's secrets.
assert something emphatically as true
She would swear blind that she saw him at the party.
box for collecting fines for bad language
Every time he swore, he added a dollar to the swear box.
trust or believe in something wholeheartedly
She swears by this remedy for headaches.
make a promise to quit a bad habit
She swore off smoking after her health scare.
affirm truth with divine consequence
I swear to God, I didn't take your book.
strongly insist something is true
She swears up and down that she saw him at the store.
formally take an oath for a position
She was sworn in as the new mayor.
formally induct someone into a position with an oath
The judge was sworn into office yesterday.
use very offensive language frequently
He tends to swear like a trooper when he's angry.
make a serious promise using someone's life as a guarantee
I swear on my mother's life that I didn't do it.
firmly claim something clearly false despite obvious evidence
He’d swear that black is white to win an argument.
make a serious promise invoking something sacred
I swear by all that is holy, I didn't do it.
make a solemn promise invoking something sacred
He swore upon the Bible to tell the truth.
word people use that is rude or offensive
He shouted a swear word when he dropped the box.
use offensive language when angry or upset
He began to curse and swear when he hit his thumb.
feel very sure something is true or happened
I could swear to it, I saw him leave early!
make a serious promise in a formal or official way
The witness will swear an oath before testifying.
container used to collect fines as a way to stop swearing
He put a dollar in the swear jar after cursing.
make a serious promise or statement with the Bible as proof
I swear on the Bible that I am telling the truth.
promise not to reveal information
She swore to secrecy about the surprise party.
make someone promise not to talk about something
They swear to silence anyone who learns the secret.
make a written statement and promise it is true by law
She had to swear an affidavit before the court.
Origin of swear
Old English, swerian (to take an oath)
Terms with swear included in their meaning
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commitment
swear to fulfill a duty or role
swear
use very strong or offensive language
promise oath
used to swear that something is true or sincere
formal swearing
swear to uphold specific duties or truths
swearing truth
swear that something is true or honest
promise oath
swear or promise something is true with strong emphasis
expression
serve as a mild oath replacing stronger swear words
oath affirmation
used to strongly swear or affirm something is true
comics
symbols in comics indicating swear words
acr: I swear to God
used to show you really mean something
oath
swear an oath on the Bible
refusing oath
refusing to swear loyalty to a government or ruler
historical person
person who refuses to swear an oath of loyalty
abr: swear to god
promise or say something is true with strong feeling
acr: swear to God
strong promise to tell the truth
profanity
curse or swear profusely
provoking
causing one to swear or curse
Examples of swear in a sentence
She swore she would never lie again. She swore to keep the secret. They swore allegiance to the flag. He tends to swear when he's frustrated. The coach swore under his breath after the loss. The clerk will swear the jurors before trial.
A notary swore her in as a public officer. She let out a swear when she stubbed her toe. The movie was full of unnecessary swear. His swear was a binding commitment. Breaking the swear would have serious consequences.
View all translations of swear
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:jurer, gros mot, ...
- German:schwören, Schimpfwort, ...
- Italian:giurare, parolaccia, ...
- Spanish:jurar, maldición, ...
- Portuguese:jurar, palavrão, ...
- Chinese:发誓, 脏话, ...
- Japanese:断言する, 悪態, ...
- Arabic:أَقْسَمَ, كَلِمَة بَذِئَة, ...
- Hebrew:לְהִשָּׁבֵעַ, קְלָלָה, ...
- Russian:клясться, ругательство, ...
- Ukrainian:клястися, лайка, ...
- Hindi:कसम खाना, गाली, ...
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