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to swear in

to swear in

53 4.2
To give someone a formal promise before they start an official job
  • phrasal verb
  • /swɛr ɪn/
  • Formal
translation icon : tomar juramento a
  • First of all, Donald Trump has been sworn in as president of the United States.
  • sworn in as president
  • sworn in as deputy

He's, you know, brand new, just got sworn in in January.

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Examples

  • So this afternoon, all the senators were sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and then they signed their names one by one in what's known as the oath book.

  • The witness shall remain standing until sworn in.

  • In January, the state had sworn in a new governor.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Vice President Ford will be sworn in as president at that hour...

  • She will swear you in as acting president.

  • On 17 August 2012, he was sworn in as US Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus.

    Academic text (2013)
  • In a simple ceremony, Gerald Ford was sworn in as Vice President.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • On January 4, 1995, the 104th Congress was sworn in, marking the first time Republicans controlled both houses since 1953.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Thabo Mbeki and de Klerk were sworn in as executive deputy presidents.

    Academic text (1997)
  • The witness shall remain standing until sworn in.

Synonyms

to install
vsto swear in
  • Formal
69 3.9

To put someone into an official job at a ceremony

administers an oath when admitting someone rather than only placing them
to induct
vsto swear in
  • Formal
31 6.2

Officially admit someone to a job or group with a ceremony

admits by oath specifically into an office rather than general membership
to instate
vsto swear in
  • Formal
1 6.6

To officially put someone into a position or office

uses an oath to admit someone rather than only appointing them

How Official

to inaugurate
  • Formal
32 6.3
to install
  • Formal
69 3.9
to swear in
  • Formal
53 4.2
to appoint
  • Formal
580 3.2
to hire
1.4

Surface Forms

swear in infinitive
swearing in present participle
swears in third person singular
swore in past
sworn in past participle

Morphology

swear + in

The verb 'swear' (to make a formal oath) combined with the particle 'in' (into a position/role) transparently yields the meaning 'administer an oath to someone to admit them into office'. This verb+particle composition follows a common, predictable pattern and would be inferable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Swear in may come from old public events where a person would swear, that is make a serious 'oath', while being brought in in front of other people and often placing a hand on a holy book. So, swear in now means to give someone a formal 'oath' and officially admit them to an 'office'.