swear
3 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of SWEAR
1
a
:
to state (something) very strongly and sincerely
[+ object]
-
I swear (that) I was there. [=I was definitely there; I am telling you the truth when I say that I was there]
-
Her English is so good that you would swear she has been studying it for years. [=you would really think that she has been studying it for years, even though she has not]
-
You'd swear (that) the jewels are real. [=the jewels look very real even though they are not]
-
I could have sworn that I left my keys on the counter. [=I'm very surprised that my keys are not on the counter because I definitely remember putting them there]
-
(US) She swore up and down [=insisted] (that) she didn't do it.
-
(Brit) He swore blind [=insisted] (that) he was innocent.
[no object]
-
I didn't do anything wrong. I swear (on my mother's grave). [=I am being absolutely honest when I say that I didn't do anything wrong]
-
I wouldn't swear to it [=I'm not absolutely sure about it], but I think he's written three books so far.
b
:
to promise very strongly and sincerely to do or not do something
[+ object]
-
He swore [=vowed] to seek revenge.
-
He swore revenge on the killers.
-
I swear (that) I'll never do that again.
[no object]
-
I swear to God, I'll kill him if he comes back.
-
I'll never do that again. Swear to God. [=I promise you that I'll never do that again]
2
[no object]
:
to use offensive words when you speak
— often + at
-
Don't swear in front of the children.
-
The other driver swore at me and drove away.
3
:
to make a formal or official promise especially in a court of law
[+ object]
-
I do solemnly swear to tell the whole truth.
-
They swore (an oath of) allegiance to the United States of America. [=they formally promised that they would be loyal to the United States of America]
[no object]
-
Witnesses are required to swear on the Bible [=to put a hand on the Bible and make a formal promise to tell the truth] before they testify.
4
[+ object]
:
to cause (someone) to make a promise
— often used as (be) sworn
-
He swore us to secrecy/silence. [=he made us promise not to tell anyone his secret]
-
Witnesses are sworn to tell the truth.
I swear
informal
— used for emphasis
-
I swear, every time I see her she's got a new boyfriend.
-
I swear, if I had a nickel for every time you did that, I'd be rich.
swear by
[phrasal verb]
swear by (something)
:
to have or express a lot of confidence in (something)
:
to say that (something) is very good or useful
-
She swears by this diet.
-
His method sounds pretty strange, but he swears by it.
swear in
[phrasal verb]
swear (someone) in
or
swear in (someone)
:
to place (someone) in a new office or position by having an official ceremony in which that person makes a formal promise to do the work properly, to be honest and loyal, etc.
— often used as (be) sworn in
—
see also swearing-in
-
When do they swear him in?
-
The new president will be sworn in tomorrow.
swear off
[phrasal verb]
swear off (something)
chiefly US
:
to stop doing, having, or being involved in (something)
-
He was so disgusted by the election results that he swore off politics for good.
-
She tried to swear off chocolate, but she couldn't do it.
—
see also sworn
2
swear
/ˈsweɚ/
noun
plural
swears
2
swear
/ˈsweɚ/
noun
plural
swears
Britannica Dictionary definition of SWEAR
[count]
US, informal
