swear
gb/swˈɛɹ/ us/swˈɛɹ/
B1
Englisch
~ 1200
Bedeutungen
0 Bedeutungen
Verb
informal
B1
action
1
Use offensive language
To say bad or rude words that can upset people.
Verwendungsmuster:
to swear [at someone/about something]
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes confuse 'swear' (to use bad language) with 'swear' (to make a promise). Context decides the meaning.
Synonyme
curse (Often interchangeable, but 'curse' can also imply wishing harm on someone.)
Antonyme
praise (Opposite in that it expresses positive or kind words instead of offensive ones.)
Wortverbindungen
swear loudly
|swear at
|swear constantly
|swear under breath
Themen
emotions
|communication
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Beispiele
- He started to swear when he saw the damage to his car.
- Please don't swear in front of the children.
- She swore at the driver who cut her off.
- I heard him swear under his breath when he dropped his phone.
Beispiele für Lernende
- He swore when he hit his hand.
- Do not swear in class.
- She swore at the man.
- He swore when the glass broke.
Verb
B1
action
2
Make a serious promise
To make a strong promise to tell the truth or do something.
Verwendungsmuster:
to swear [to do something/that something is true]
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes think this only means using bad language, but it can also mean making a serious promise.
Synonyme
vow ('Vow' is more formal and often used in ceremonial contexts like weddings.)
Antonyme
break a promise (Represents failing to keep one's word, the opposite of swearing to do something.)
Wortverbindungen
swear an oath
|swear allegiance
|swear to tell the truth
Themen
law
|relationships
|communication
|religion
Beispiele
- He swore to return the money by Friday.
- She swore she had never seen him before.
- The witness swore to tell the truth in court.
- I swear I'll never lie to you again.
Beispiele für Lernende
- I swear I will help you.
- He swore to tell the truth.
- She swore she did not take it.
- They swear to be friends forever.
Verb
B2
action
3
Strongly assert truth
To say you are sure something is true.
Verwendungsmuster:
to swear [that something is true]
Synonyme
insist ('Insist' can be less emotional and more factual than 'swear'.)
Antonyme
deny (Means to state that something is not true, the opposite of asserting it strongly.)
Wortverbindungen
swear blind
|swear up and down
Themen
communication
|core_vocabulary
Beispiele
- I swear I've seen that man before.
- She swears she left her keys on the table.
- He swore it was an accident.
Beispiele für Lernende
- I swear it is true.
- She swears she saw you.
- He swears he is right.
Grammatik
Grundform
swear
IPA
GB/swˈɛɹ/
US/swˈɛɹ/
Silben & Betonung
swear (1 Silbe)
Stress on 1st syllable (swear)
Wortformen
Verb
- Base: swear
- 3rd Person Singular: swears
- Present Participle: swearing
- Past: swore
- Past Participle: sworn
Wortfamilie
Forms
swears
verb
swearing
verb
swore
verb
sworn
verb
Core family
swearword
noun
Advanced or less common
forswear
verb
Grammatik-Highlights
- Irregular past: swore Verb
- Irregular past participle: sworn Verb
Ausdrücke
swear by
1/swˈɛɹ bˈaɪ/
phrasal verb
informal
Trust strongly in something's value
To believe something is very good or works very well.
Beispiele
- My grandmother swears by honey and lemon for a sore throat.
- He swears by this brand of running shoes.
swear in
3/swˈɛɹ ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
Administer an oath for office
To officially make someone start their job by having them make a formal promise.
Beispiele
- The new mayor was sworn in yesterday.
- They will swear in the witnesses before the trial starts.
swear off
2/swˈɛɹ ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
informal
Stop doing something harmful
To promise not to do something bad for you again.
Beispiele
- After getting sick, he swore off junk food for good.
- She has sworn off smoking since last year.