swerve
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
-
to turn or cause to turn aside, usually sharply or suddenly, from a course
-
(tr) to avoid (a person or event)
noun
Related Words
See deviate.
Other Word Forms
- swervable adjective
- swerver noun
- unswerved adjective
- unswerving adjective
- unswervingly adverb
- unswervingness noun
Etymology
Origin of swerve
1175–1225; Middle English swerven (v.); Old English sweorfan to rub, file; cognate with Dutch zwerven to rove, Old High German swerban, Old Norse sverfa to file, Gothic afswairban to wipe off
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Quite a character swerve from the opening batter who over-analysed himself in front of the mirror.
From BBC
His latest special, “Trash Daddy” — released on YouTube via comedy platform 800 Pound Gorilla — swerves among jokes about politics, family and living life as a hick from the sticks while trying to raise California-bred children.
From Los Angeles Times
Like England, Scotland have also swerved playing in the west so their games should not be played too late for audiences in the UK.
From BBC
The course teaches basic skills like accelerating, turning, swerving and emergency braking.
The brewer said early last month that production at six beer factories had resumed, while it was processing orders by hand in an effort to swerve potential drinks shortages.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
