ENGLISH
REFERENCE

swore

v.
US //ˈswɔɹ// UK //swˈɔː// swore
  1. 1 promised seriously (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the past tense of 'swear' when you made a very serious promise.

    the simple past form of 'swear' in the sense of making a solemn or formal oath.

    Example

    He swore that he would never tell anyone my secret.

    Example

    The witness swore an oath before the court, promising that her testimony would be entirely truthful and accurate.
  2. 2 used bad language (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    the past tense of 'swear' when you used rude or offensive words.

    the simple past form of 'swear' in the sense of using profane, obscene, or offensive language.

    Example

    She swore loudly when she accidentally dropped the heavy box on her foot.

    Example

    The player swore at the referee after the controversial decision, resulting in an immediate yellow card for unsporting conduct.
  3. 3 past participle form (v.)
    C1 Advanced Dialect Informal

    a form of 'swear' used in some local styles of English instead of 'sworn'.

    a dialectal or colloquial past participle variant of 'swear', used in place of the standard 'sworn'.

    Example

    He had swore he'd be there, but he never showed up.

    Example

    In certain regional dialects, you might hear speakers say they have 'swore' an oath, though 'sworn' remains the requirement for formal writing.
    Pitfall
    I have swore to tell the truth.
    I have sworn to tell the truth.

    In standard English, 'sworn' is the past participle used after 'have'. 'Swore' as a participle is considered informal or dialectal.

Last updated June 20, 2026