Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

swearing

/swˈɛɹɪŋ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.53 in modern English

Syllables: swear-ing
IPA: /swˈɛɹɪŋ/

12

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

present participle and gerund of swear

noun

The act of swearing, or making an oath.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths. Consider for a moment the origins of almost any word we have for bad language – "profanity", "curses", "oaths" and "swearing" itself."
"No man is believed a jot the more for all the asseverations, damnings, and swearings he makes."

Etymology

From Middle English swerynge; equivalent to swear + -ing.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: swerynge

Usage

Inflected Forms

swearings (plural)

Derived Forms

nonswearing swearingly forswearing

Phrases

hard swearing swearing contest swearing-in swearing jar

Frequently Paired Words

swearword

Synonyms

billingsgate blasphemy curse cuss cussword expletive imprecation invective malediction oath obscenity profanity

Rhymes With

wearing sharing preparing bearing caring staring comparing declaring tearing daring pairing airing

Questions

How do you pronounce swearing?: The recorded pronunciation is /swˈɛɹɪŋ/.
What does swearing mean?: present participle and gerund of swear
Where does swearing come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce swearing

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “swearing”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/swˈɛɹɪŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “swearing”.
Repeat and practice — Say “swearing” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.