# swear

/ˈswɛɹ/ (US) · /swˈeə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/swear
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to promise solemnly

verb · CEFR B1

to make a serious or legal promise that something is true or that you will do something.

For teachers: to make a solemn or formal declaration, often invoking a deity or legal authority, to attest to the truth of a statement.

- I swear that I am telling the truth about what happened last night.
- The witness was required to swear an oath on the Bible before providing her testimony to the court.

Usage: often followed by a 'that' clause or an infinitive.

### 2. to use bad language

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to use rude, offensive, or angry words.

For teachers: to use profane, obscene, or offensive language, often as an expression of anger or frustration.

- He started to swear loudly when he dropped the heavy box on his foot.
- The coach was warned by the referee after he continued to swear at the players from the sidelines.

Usage: intransitive or followed by 'at' when directed at a person.

### 3. to rely on something

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to believe strongly that something is effective or useful.

For teachers: to express great confidence in the effectiveness or value of a particular thing.

- My grandmother swears by honey and lemon whenever she has a sore throat.
- Many professional athletes swear by this specific recovery routine, claiming it significantly reduces the risk of muscle strain.

Usage: usually used in the phrasal form 'swear by'.

### 4. a rude word

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

a rude or offensive word.

For teachers: an instance of profane or obscene language; a swear word.

- The young boy got in trouble for using a swear in front of his teacher.
- The script was edited for television to remove every swear and replace them with milder alternatives.

Teaching tip: In American English, 'curse word' or 'profanity' is more common than using 'swear' as a noun.

## Examples

- Please do not swear in front of the children.
- The witness had to swear to tell the truth before giving her testimony in court.
- While some linguists argue that swearing can provide a necessary emotional release, most professional environments maintain strict codes of conduct regarding such expressive language.

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