(swears, swearing, swore, sworn)
1.
If someone swears, they use language that is considered to be rude or offensive, usually because they are angry.
It's wrong to swear and shout...
They swore at them and ran off.
VERB: V, V at n
2.
If you swear to do something, you promise in a serious way that you will do it.
Alan swore that he would do everything in his power to help us...
We have sworn to fight cruelty wherever we find it...
The police are the only civil servants who have to swear allegiance to the Crown...
I have sworn an oath to defend her.
VERB: V that, V to-inf, V n, V n
3.
If you say that you swear that something is true or that you can swear to it, you are saying very firmly that it is true.
I swear I've told you all I know...
I swear on all I hold dear that I had nothing to do with this...
Behind them was a confusion of noise, perhaps even a shot, but he couldn't swear to it.
VERB: V that, V on/by n that, V to n [emphasis]
4.
If someone is sworn to secrecy or is sworn to silence, they promise another person that they will not reveal a secret.
She was bursting to announce the news but was sworn to secrecy.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n
5.