wields - Master This Word
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wields Word Meanings
- to hold and use a weapon or tool
- to exercise power or influence
- to manage or control something
wields Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
wields Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/wiːld/
US
/wiːld/
wields Word Etymology
From 'wield' (root: 'wieldan' in Old English) means to 'to handle' or 'to carry' suggesting a dynamic control. Image: Picture a knight confidently wielding a sword, ready for battle, symbolizing strength and authority.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Wield is a verb that covers both physical and abstract control. It originally meant to handle or carry with skill, dating back to Old English wieldan, and today it commonly appears in phrases about weapons, tools, power, and influence. In everyday use, you wield a hammer carefully, you wield authority decisively, and you also wield influence by guiding others or shaping outcomes. The idea blends action and capability: it isn’t enough to own something; you must use it effectively. A vivid image is a knight confidently wielding a sword, symbolizing strength, responsibility, and control under pressure.
Usage Reminders
- Use with a direct object: wield a sword or wield influence.
- Emphasize active, skilled use, not mere possession.
- Past tense is wielded; present participle is wielding.
- Do not confuse with yield, which means to give way.
- Common collocations: wield power, wield authority, wield a tool.
- Practice in varied contexts to build range.
Common Misconceptions
- Thinking wield means simply owning something; it actually means using it actively.
- Using wield when you should say hold or own in a passive sense.
- Confusing wield with yield; yield means to give way, not exercise control.
- Believing it only relates to weapons; it also applies to tools and authority.
- Mispronouncing the word or its past tense; pronounce /wiːld/ and /ˈwiːldə(d)/.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker: English tends to pair wield with concrete objects or abstract power, emphasizing active control and responsibility.
Learning Tips
- Practice with both concrete and abstract objects (hammer, power, influence).
- Learn common collocations like wield power, wield authority, wield a tool.
- Remember the past tense is wielded and the present participle is wielding.
- Keep straight the difference from yield; wield = actively control, yield = give way.
- Use varied contexts in sentences to build flexibility.
- Check pronunciation and stress: /wiːld/.
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