swear

verb
UK: /sweə(r)/
US: /swer/

  1. To use rude or offensive language.

    1. Don't swear in front of the children. [ ] [ ]
    2. He started to swear when he realised his car had been damaged so badly. [ ] [ ]

  2. To make a serious promise, often using the name of God or something holy.

    1. I swear I'm telling the truth. [ ] [ ]
    2. She swore to avenge her brother's death and never be happy again. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

promise vow curse oath affirm
swear noun

  1. A rude or offensive word or phrase.

    1. That word is a swear. [ ] [ ]
    2. I can't believe he said that swear so loudly. [ ] [ ]
swear interjection

  1. Used to express anger, surprise, or annoyance.

    1. Swear, that hurt! [ ] [ ]
    2. Swear, I forgot my keys again when leaving the house. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "swear" in English means: To use rude or offensive language., To make a serious promise, often using the name of God or something holy..

The phonetic transcription of "swear" is /sweə(r)/ in British English and /swer/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "swear": promise, vow, curse, oath, affirm.

Example usage of "swear": "Don't swear in front of the children.". More examples on the page.