Sway vs. Swing — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 3, 2024
Sway involves a controlled, often gentle, back-and-forth or side-to-side movement, commonly associated with persuasion or influence, while swing involves a broader, often rhythmic motion, linked with physical movement or change in opinion.
Difference Between Sway and Swing
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sway typically denotes a gradual or controlled movement, often in a back-and-forth or side-to-side manner. It's frequently used to describe the motion of objects influenced by external forces, like trees swaying in the wind. On the other hand, swing denotes a more forceful, often rhythmic movement around a point or axis, such as a pendulum or a person swinging a bat.
Sway can also imply influence or control over someone's opinions or decisions. It suggests a subtle, persuasive ability to direct outcomes or beliefs. Whereas, swing, in a metaphorical sense, can refer to a sudden or decisive change in opinion, position, or trend, especially in contexts like politics or social attitudes.
In terms of physical movement, sway is often associated with stability and balance, requiring a base of support and minimal displacement. It is seen in the gentle motion of standing structures or people trying to maintain equilibrium. Swing, however, involves a wider range of motion and is linked to activities that require momentum, such as playing on a swing set or hitting a golf ball.
Sway is sometimes used in the context of music and dance, indicating a graceful, flowing movement that aligns with musical rhythms. It conveys elegance and poise. Swing, in a similar context, refers to a genre of jazz music and the associated dance styles characterized by lively, bouncing movements that are more expansive and energetic.
While sway and swing both involve motion, the former is often perceived as more deliberate and controlled, with an emphasis on subtlety and influence. Swing, conversely, is dynamic and can signify both physical movements and shifts in perspectives or situations, showcasing a broader spectrum of application and intensity.
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Comparison Chart
Type of Motion
Gentle, controlled back-and-forth or side-to-side
Broad, rhythmic movement around a point or axis
Metaphorical Use
Influence over opinions or decisions
Sudden change in opinion or position
Associated With
Stability, balance, elegance
Momentum, energy, dynamic changes
Contexts
Physical objects, persuasion, dance
Physical activity, changes in opinion, music and dance genres
Movement Range
Minimal displacement, often maintaining equilibrium
Wider range of motion, involving significant displacement
Compare with Definitions
Sway
Gentle, rhythmic motion.
The trees sway gently in the breeze.
Swing
An activity involving momentum.
She loves the thrill of swinging higher on the swing set.
Sway
Graceful movement in dance.
They moved with a perfect sway to the slow music.
Swing
To move freely around a point or axis.
The door swung open with a creak.
Sway
Balance and stability.
He swayed slightly to maintain his balance on the boat.
Swing
Using an object with a forceful motion.
He swung the bat and hit the ball out of the park.
Sway
Influence over decisions or opinions.
Her argument had a significant sway over the jury's verdict.
Swing
A sudden change in opinion or situation.
The election results caused a swing towards the conservative party.
Sway
A manner of ruling or controlling.
The queen held sway over the lands with fairness.
Swing
A genre of jazz music.
Swing music filled the room, getting everyone on their feet.
Sway
To swing back and forth or to and fro.
Swing
Move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side while suspended or on an axis
Her long black skirt swung about her legs
The door swung shut behind him
A priest began swinging a censer
Sway
To incline or bend to one side; veer
She swayed and put out a hand to steady herself.
Swing
Move by grasping a support from below and leaping
The Irishman swung himself into the saddle
We swung across like two trapeze artists
Sway
To incline toward change, as in opinion or feeling
He swayed toward trying out for the chorus.
Swing
Move or cause to move in a smooth, curving line
She swung her legs to the side of the bed
The cab swung into the car park
Sway
To fluctuate, as in outlook.
Swing
Shift or cause to shift from one opinion, mood, or state of affairs to another
Opinion swung in the Chancellor's favour
The failure to seek peace could swing sentiment the other way
Sway
To cause to swing back and forth or to and fro
The breeze swayed the wheat.
Swing
Play music with a flowing but vigorous rhythm
The band swung on
Sway
To cause to incline or bend
The wind swayed the trees toward the house.
Swing
(of an event, place, or way of life) be lively, exciting, or fashionable.
Sway
To exert influence or control over
His speech swayed the voters.
Swing
A seat suspended by ropes or chains, on which someone may sit and swing back and forth.
Sway
(Nautical) To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.
Swing
An act of swinging
With the swing of her arm, the knife flashed through the air
Sway
To rule or govern.
Swing
A discernible change in opinion, especially the amount by which votes or points scored change from one side to another
A five per cent swing to Labour
Sway
To wield, as a weapon or scepter.
Swing
A style of jazz or dance music with a flowing but vigorous rhythm.
Sway
The act of moving from side to side with a swinging motion.
Swing
A swift tour involving a number of stops, especially one undertaken as part of a political campaign.
Sway
Influence or control
The mayor has a lot of sway in our town.
Swing
(in musical theatre) an understudy, typically one who covers multiple roles in the chorus of a particular production.
Sway
The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.
Swing
To move back and forth suspended or as if suspended from above.
Sway
A rocking or swinging motion.
The old song caused a little sway in everyone in the room.
Swing
To hit at something with a sweeping motion of the arm
Swung at the ball.
Sway
Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
I doubt I'll hold much sway with someone so powerful.
Swing
To move laterally or in a curve
The car swung over to the curb.
Sway
Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.
Swing
To turn in place on or as if on a hinge or pivot.
Sway
Rule; dominion; control; power.
Swing
To move along with an easy, swaying gait
Swinging down the road.
Sway
A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.
Swing
To propel oneself from one place or position to another by grasping a fixed support
Swinging through the trees.
Sway
The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion.
Swing
To ride on a swing.
Sway
To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock.
Sway to the music
The trees swayed in the breeze.
Swing
To shift from one attitude, interest, condition, or emotion to another; vacillate.
Sway
To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield.
To sway the sceptre
Swing
(Slang) To be put to death by hanging.
Sway
To influence or direct by power, authority, persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. Compare persuade.
Do you think you can sway their decision?
Swing
To have a subtle, intuitively felt rhythm or sense of rhythm.
Sway
To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp.
Reeds swayed by the wind
Judgment swayed by passion
Swing
To play with a subtle, intuitively felt sense of rhythm.
Sway
(nautical) To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.
To sway up the yards
Swing
To be lively, trendy, and exciting.
Sway
To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.
Swing
To cause to move back and forth, as on a swing.
Sway
To have weight or influence.
Swing
To cause to move in a broad arc or curve
Swing a bat.
Swung the car over.
Sway
To bear sway; to rule; to govern.
Swing
To cause to move with a sweeping motion
Swinging his arms.
Sway
To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield; as, to sway the scepter.
As sparkles from the anvil rise,When heavy hammers on the wedge are swayed.
Swing
To lift and convey with a sweeping motion
Swung the cargo onto the deck.
Sway
To influence or direct by power and authority; by persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide.
The will of man is by his reason swayed.
She could not sway her house.
This was the raceTo sway the world, and land and sea subdue.
Swing
To suspend so as to sway or turn freely
Swung a hammock between two trees.
Sway
To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp; as, reeds swayed by wind; judgment swayed by passion.
As bowls run true by being madeOn purpose false, and to be swayed.
Let not temporal and little advantages sway you against a more durable interest.
Swing
To suspend on hinges
Swing a shutter.
Sway
To hoist; as, to sway up the yards.
Swing
To cause to turn on hinges
Swung the door shut.
Sway
To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.
The balance sways on our part.
Swing
To cause to shift from one attitude, position, opinion, or condition to another.
Sway
To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward.
Swing
To manage or arrange successfully
Swing a deal.
Sway
To have weight or influence.
The example of sundry churches . . . doth sway much.
Swing
To bring around to the desired result
Swing an election.
Sway
To bear sway; to rule; to govern.
Hadst thou swayed as kings should do.
Swing
(Music) To play (music) with a subtle, intuitively felt sense of rhythm.
Sway
The act of swaying; a swaying motion; the swing or sweep of a weapon.
With huge two-handed sway brandished aloft.
Swing
The act or an instance of swinging; movement back and forth or in one particular direction.
Sway
Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; as, the sway of desires.
Swing
The sweep or scope of something that swings
The pendulum's swing is 12 inches.
Sway
Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.
ExpertWhen to advance, or stand, or turn the swayOf battle.
Swing
A blow or stroke executed with a sweeping motion of the arm.
Sway
Rule; dominion; control.
When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway,The post of honor is a private station.
Swing
The manner in which one swings something, such as a bat or golf club.
Sway
A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.
Swing
A shift from one attitude, position, or condition to another
A swing to conservatism.
Sway
Controlling influence
Swing
Freedom of action
The children have free swing in deciding what color to paint their room.
Sway
Pitching dangerously to one side
Swing
A swaying, graceful motion
Has a swing to her walk.
Sway
Move back and forth or sideways;
The ship was rocking
The tall building swayed
She rocked back and forth on her feet
Swing
A sweep back and forth
The swing of a bird across the sky.
Sway
Move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner;
He swung back
Swing
A course or tour that returns to the starting point
A swing across the state while campaigning.
Sway
Win approval or support for;
Carry all before one
His speech did not sway the voters
Swing
A seat suspended from above, as by ropes, on which one can ride back and forth for recreation.
Sway
Cause to move back and forth;
Rock the cradle
Rock the baby
The wind swayed the trees gently
Swing
The normal rhythm of life or pace of activities
Back in the swing.
Swing
A steady, vigorous rhythm or movement, as in verse.
Swing
A regular movement up or down, as in stock prices.
Swing
A type of popular dance music developed about 1935 and based on jazz but employing a larger band, less improvisation, and simpler harmonic and rhythmic patterns.
Swing
A ballroom dance performed to this music.
Swing
A subtle, intuitively felt rhythmic quality or sense of rhythm.
Swing
(Music) Relating to or performing swing
A swing band.
Swing
Determining an outcome; decisive
The swing vote.
Swing
(intransitive) To rotate about an off-centre fixed point.
The plant swung in the breeze.
Swing
(intransitive) To dance.
Swing
(intransitive) To ride on a swing.
The children laughed as they swung.
Swing
(intransitive) To participate in the swinging lifestyle; to participate in wife-swapping.
Swing
(intransitive) To hang from the gallows; to be punished by hanging, swing for something or someone; (often hyperbolic) to be severely punished.
Swing
To move sideways in its trajectory.
Swing
To make the ball move sideways in its trajectory.
Swing
(intransitive) To fluctuate or change.
It wasn't long before the crowd's mood swung towards restless irritability.
Swing
(transitive) To move (an object) backward and forward; to wave.
He swung his sword as hard as he could.
Swing
(transitive) To change (a numerical result); especially to change the outcome of an election.
Swing
(transitive) To make (something) work; especially to afford (something) financially.
If it’s not too expensive, I think we can swing it.
Swing
To play notes that are in pairs by making the first of the pair slightly longer than written (augmentation) and the second shorter, resulting in a bouncy, uneven rhythm.
Swing
To move one's arm in a punching motion.
Swing
(transitive) In dancing, to turn around in a small circle with one's partner, holding hands or arms.
"to swing one's partner", or simply "to swing"
Swing
To admit or turn something for the purpose of shaping it; said of a lathe.
The lathe can swing a pulley of 12 inches diameter.
Swing
To put (a door, gate, etc.) on hinges so that it can swing or turn.
Swing
(nautical) To turn round by action of wind or tide when at anchor.
A ship swings with the tide.
Swing
The manner in which something is swung.
He worked tirelessly to improve his golf swing.
Door swing indicates direction the door opens.
The swing of a pendulum
Swing
The sweep or compass of a swinging body.
Swing
A line, cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which anything may swing.
Swing
A hanging seat in a children's playground, for acrobats in a circus, or on a porch for relaxing.
Swing
A dance style.
Swing
(music) The genre of music associated with this dance style.
Swing
The amount of change towards or away from something.
Swing
(politics) In an election, the increase or decrease in the number of votes for opposition parties compared with votes for the incumbent party.
The polls showed a wide swing to Labour.
Swing
(cricket) Sideways movement of the ball as it flies through the air.
Swing
Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it.
Swing
In a musical theater production, a performer who understudies several roles.
Swing
A basic dance step in which a pair link hands and turn round together in a circle.
Swing
(obsolete) Free course; unrestrained liberty.
Swing
Influence or power of anything put in motion.
Swing
(boxing) A type of hook with the arm more extended.
Swing
To move to and fro, as a body suspended in the air; to wave; to vibrate; to oscillate.
I tried if a pendulum would swing faster, or continue swinging longer, in case of exsuction of the air.
Swing
To sway or move from one side or direction to another; as, the door swung open.
Swing
To turn round by action of wind or tide when at anchor; as, a ship swings with the tide.
Swing
To be hanged.
He had swung round the circle of theories and systems in which his age abounded, without finding relief.
Swing
To cause to swing or vibrate; to cause to move backward and forward, or from one side to the other.
He swings his tail, and swiftly turns his round.
They get on ropes, as you must have seen the children, and are swung by their men visitants.
Swing
To give a circular movement to; to whirl; to brandish; as, to swing a sword; to swing a club; hence, colloquially, to manage; as, to swing a business.
Swing
To admit or turn (anything) for the purpose of shaping it; - said of a lathe; as, the lathe can swing a pulley of 12 inches diameter.
Swing
The act of swinging; a waving, oscillating, or vibratory motion of a hanging or pivoted object; oscillation; as, the swing of a pendulum.
Swing
Swaying motion from one side or direction to the other; as, some men walk with a swing.
Swing
A line, cord, or other thing suspended and hanging loose, upon which anything may swing; especially, an apparatus for recreation by swinging, commonly consisting of a rope, the two ends of which are attached overhead, as to the bough of a tree, a seat being placed in the loop at the bottom; also, any contrivance by which a similar motion is produced for amusement or exercise.
Swing
Influence of power of a body put in swaying motion.
The ram that batters down the wall,For the great swing and rudeness of his poise,They place before his hand that made the engine.
Swing
Capacity of a turning lathe, as determined by the diameter of the largest object that can be turned in it.
Swing
Free course; unrestrained liberty or license; tendency.
To prevent anything which may prove an obstacle to the full swing of his genius.
Swing
A state of steady vigorous action that is characteristic of an activity;
The party went with a swing
It took time to get into the swing of things
Swing
Mechanical device used as a plaything to support someone swinging back and forth
Swing
A sweeping blow or stroke;
He took a wild swing at my head
Swing
Changing location by moving back and forth
Swing
A style of jazz played by big bands popular in the 1930s; flowing rhythms but less complex than later styles of jazz
Swing
A jaunty rhythm in music
Swing
The act of swinging a golf club at a golf ball and (usually) hitting it
Swing
In baseball; a batter's attempt to hit a pitched ball;
He took a vicious cut at the ball
Swing
A square dance figure; a pair of dancers join hands and dance around a point between them
Swing
Move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting;
He swung his left fist
Swing a bat
Swing
Move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner;
He swung back
Swing
Change direction with a swinging motion; turn;
Swing back
Swing forward
Swing
Influence decisively;
This action swung many votes over to his side
Swing
Make a big sweeping gesture or movement
Swing
Hang freely;
The ornaments dangled from the tree
The light dropped from the ceiling
Swing
Hit or aim at with a sweeping arm movement;
The soccer player began to swing at the referee
Swing
Alternate dramatically between high and low values;
His mood swings
The market is swinging up and down
Swing
Live in a lively, modern, and relaxed style;
The Woodstock generation attempted to swing freely
Swing
Have a certain musical rhythm;
The music has to swing
Swing
Be a social swinger; socialize a lot
Swing
Play with a subtle and intuitively felt sense of rhythm
Common Curiosities
Are sway and swing used in music?
Yes, sway is associated with graceful, rhythmic movements in dance, and swing refers to a lively genre of jazz and its dance style.
Can sway and swing both refer to changes in opinion?
Yes, but sway implies influencing opinions subtly, while swing refers to more significant, often sudden changes.
How do sway and swing relate to stability?
Sway is connected with maintaining stability and balance, whereas swing is more about dynamic movements that require momentum.
How do sway and swing differ in physical movement?
Sway is about gentle, balanced motions, while swing involves more forceful, wide-ranging movements.
What does swing mean?
Swing denotes a broad, rhythmic movement around a point or axis and can also refer to a sudden change in opinion or situation.
Can both sway and swing be used to describe emotional influences?
Yes, sway can describe subtle emotional influences, and swing can refer to more pronounced shifts in emotional states or reactions.
What is sway?
Sway refers to a gentle, controlled back-and-forth or side-to-side motion, often associated with influence or balance.
Do sway and swing have similar applications in dance?
Both terms are used in dance but differ in style; sway emphasizes grace and fluidity, while swing focuses on energy and bounce.
Is sway always gentle?
Typically, yes, sway suggests a more controlled and subtle movement compared to swing.
What metaphorical meanings do sway and swing have?
Sway metaphorically signifies influence, and swing indicates a change or shift in perspectives or situations.
Can swing be negative?
In some contexts, yes, especially when referring to drastic or unpredictable changes in opinions or situations.
Is there a type of music associated with sway?
Not specifically, though sway is often used to describe movements in dance music, unlike swing, which is a distinct genre of jazz.
How do sway and swing differ in sports?
Sway isn't commonly used in sports, while swing is widely used to describe actions like hitting a ball or the motion of a golf club.
Can the terms sway and swing be used interchangeably?
In some contexts they might overlap, but they generally have distinct meanings related to the type and scope of motion or influence.
Do sway and swing have different connotations in literature?
Yes, sway often conveys subtlety and control, while swing can suggest more dramatic shifts or actions.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
