ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sworn

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈswɔɹn// UK //swˈɔːn// sworn

adj. the past participle of 'swear'. You use it when you have made a serious, official promise to tell the truth or do something.

adj. the past participle of swear, used to indicate that a formal oath or solemn promise has been made. Often functions as a participial adjective in legal or official contexts.


SIMPLE

The witness has sworn to tell the truth.

CONTEXTUAL

The newly elected officials were sworn into office during a ceremony at the city hall this morning.

COMPLEX

Having sworn an oath of secrecy, the researchers were unable to disclose the source of their funding or the specific nature of the data they had collected.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English sworen, isworen, from Old English sworen, ġesworen, from Proto-West Germanic swaran, giswaran, from Proto-Germanic swaranaz, past participle of Proto-Germanic swarjaną (“to swear”), equivalent to swear + -en.

Usage

Often used in the passive voice ('was sworn in') or as an adjective before a noun ('sworn enemy').

Pitfall

He has swored to help.He has sworn to help.Swear is an irregular verb; the past participle is 'sworn', not 'swored'.

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