1.sway的基本意思是“摇摆”,指物体在外力(如风)作用下来回、上下、前后缓缓地摆动。引申可表示为“控制”“影响”“左右(人、思想、情绪等)”等。
2.sway既可用作及物动词,也可用作不及物动词。用作及物动词时接名词、代词作宾语; 用作不及物动词时,常与介词with或to连用。

sway to(v.+prep.)
1.随…摇动 swing to
▲sway to sth
The dancers swayed to the music.那群人随着音乐婆娑起舞。
2.摇向…; 倾向 swing to sth
▲sway sth to sth
The wind swayed a tree to the ground.风将一棵树吹倒在地。
The weight of the passengers swayed the car to the right.旅客的重量使车向右侧倾斜。
The weight of the load swayed the boat to the left.负载的重量使船倾向左边。
The earthquake caused the wall to sway to the right.地震使墙向右倾斜。

sway with(v.+prep.)
支配; 伴随着〔用…摇晃…〕 control; swing with
▲sway with sb
That was the motive that swayed with her.那就是支配她的动机。
▲sway sth with sth
She swayed her body in time with the music.她随着音乐的节拍摇晃着身子。
He swayed his head from side to side with worry.他忧心忡忡地频频摇头。
She swayed the baby's cradle with her foot until the baby went to sleep.她用一只脚摇晃着婴儿的摇篮,把婴儿摇睡了。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
The trees were swaying gently in the wind.树在风中轻轻摇曳。
She swayed and fell in a faint.她摇摇晃晃晕倒在地。
He didn't fall, but swayed a little.他稍许晃了一下,并未跌倒。
The sailboat swayed on the stormy sea.帆船在暴风雨的海面上摇晃。
His resolution never sways.他的决心从不动摇。
用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
Wind swayed the curtain.风吹动窗帘。
The wind sways the tall grass.风吹动着长得很高的草。
The speaker's words swayed his audience.这位演讲者的话对听众产生了很大影响。
Nothing could seay him once he had made up his mind.他一旦打定了主意,什么也动摇不了他。
She made a speech that swayed many voters.她作了一次影响了许多投票人的演说。
The prospect of cold weather swayed them, and they decided to go south.即将到来的寒冷天气使他们决定南迁。
◇ 用于be ～ed 结构
He's very easily swayed.他很容易受别人影响。
He was swayed by his feelings.他受他的感情支配。
The audience was swayed by the speaker's conviction.听众被演讲者的说服力所打动。
When choosing a job don't be swayed by false promises of future high earnings.当找工作时,不要被将来会得高薪等虚假的承诺所影响。

sway, fluctuate, swing
参见swing条。

sway还可用作名词,作“摇摆”“起支配作用的影响”解。例如:
He felt the sway of the deck under his feet.他感觉到脚下甲板的摇动。
In medieval times the Church held sway over many countries.在中世纪,教会支配着许多国家。

［同义词］   impress, swing, waver
［词源］＜中古英语sweyen(转,弯,摇摆)