swivel
Americannoun
-
swivels
plural
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a fastening device that allows the thing fastened to turn around freely upon it, especially to turn in a full circle.
-
such a device consisting of two parts, each of which turns around independently, as a compound link of a chain, one part of which turns freely in the other by means of a headed pin or the like.
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a pivoted support allowing a gun to turn around in a horizontal plane.
-
a swivel gun.
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a device attached to a loom and used as a shuttle to weave extra threads in the production of small figures, especially dots.
verb (used with object)
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swivels,
present (3rd person singular)
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swiveled,
past participle, past
-
swivelled,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
swiveling,
present participle
-
swivelling
present participle (especially British)
-
to turn or pivot on or as if on a swivel.
He swiveled his chair around.
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to fasten by a swivel; furnish with a swivel.
verb (used without object)
-
swivels,
present (3rd person singular)
-
swiveled,
past participle, past
-
swivelled,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
swiveling,
present participle
-
swivelling
present participle (especially British)
noun
-
a coupling device which allows an attached object to turn freely
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such a device made of two parts which turn independently, such as a compound link of a chain
-
-
a pivot on which is mounted a gun that may be swung from side to side in a horizontal plane
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Also called: swivel gun. the gun itself
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verb
-
to turn or swing on or as if on a pivot
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(tr) to provide with, secure by, or support with a swivel
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
swivelsimple
-
swivelssimple
-
have swiveledperfect
-
have swivelledperfect
-
has swiveledperfect
-
has swivelledperfect
-
am swivelingprogressive
-
am swivellingprogressive
-
are swivelingprogressive
-
are swivellingprogressive
-
is swivelingprogressive
-
is swivellingprogressive
-
have been swivelingperfect progressive
-
have been swivellingperfect progressive
-
has been swivelingperfect progressive
-
has been swivellingperfect progressive
Past
-
swiveledsimple
-
swivelledsimple
-
had swiveledperfect
-
had swivelledperfect
-
was swivelingprogressive
-
was swivellingprogressive
-
were swivelingprogressive
-
were swivellingprogressive
-
had been swivelingperfect progressive
-
had been swivellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of swivel
1275–1325; Middle English (noun), equivalent to swiv- (weak stem of Old English swīfan to revolve; cognate with Old Norse svīfa to turn) + -el instrumental suffix
Explanation
A swivel is a device that allows something to turn freely. Desk chairs are often designed so the seat can swivel atop the base. In the hospital, the TV is usually mounted on a swivel so that patients can adjust it. Swivel comes from a middle English word, swive, meaning to sweep. It’s often used to describe gun mountings, like on a tank or a boat where a gun is fastened down but can still be swung around in any direction. But people can also swivel. If you were in the middle of robbing a bank and you heard a noise behind you, you’d probably swivel around quickly to see what it was.
Vocabulary lists containing swivel
Prisoner B-3087
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The BFG
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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.
See Examples For:
Maddox Batson sits in a swivel chair in a West Hollywood recording studio on a recent evening, spinning idly as his mother and manager go over their plans for the next few days.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2026
Behind her, an elegantly decorated living room can be seen, with a large L-shaped gray couch set up against one wall opposite two cozy-looking white swivel chairs.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 15, 2026
The calmness and poise to turn and swivel on it.
From BBC ● Dec. 15, 2025
These chairs are widely regarded as precursors of modern office chairs that swivel and tilt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 15, 2025
“You’re not going to be here that long. In fact”—he leaned back in his swivel chair and clamped his hands behind his head—“I don’t even want to know why you’re here.”
From "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli
Mark Zuckerberg named mine “Dash,” and whenever I open Muse, the cute little fella blinks at me as he swivels his necklike body part from right to left.
From Slate ● Oct. 14, 2026
As the hulking antenna swivels into action, screens inside the control room light up with the names of objects the radar system detects: stars, satellites and abandoned rocket bodies.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
There’s a light, power outlets including a USB-C port, a small mirror and a TV that swivels.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026
Next to him, 67-year-old teacher and musician Alan Akaka swivels his desk chair from his computer screen to face Cortez with a pop quiz: “Have you been practicing with the music?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 1, 2024
I slide out of my seat, but Lolo swivels his stool toward me.
From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina
Banks, dressed in a blue suit and tie, swiveled back and forth watching his lawyer and Hester, like watching a tennis match.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
My pod was roomy, with solid seat padding and a large TV screen that swiveled.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026
Suddenly, the head of a gigantic doll swiveled around and she froze, but it was too late.
From New York Times ● Nov. 22, 2023
They then swiveled their wings forward to continue on their way.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2023
As I swiveled around, the ground liquefied beneath me, drawing me into darkness deeper than the sea.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Having so nearly been out of the tie, Dortmund were right back in it soon afterwards when substitute Sebastien Haller swivelled to crash the ball in at the near post.
From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2024
Northern Ireland threatened again just a few minutes before Finland opened the scoring when striker Charles swivelled and caught a volley well but it flew straight into the arms of the goalkeeper.
From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2023
But Vincent Kompany's hosts hit back immediately after the break as Lyle Foster swivelled and struck a calm finish for his first top-flight goal.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2023
Verona took the lead in the ninth minute when Lazović gathered the ball with his back to goal and swivelled to fire into the roof of the net.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 9, 2023
His ears twitched and then swivelled right around.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
Americans are swiveling their heads between Iran and Venezuela and wondering what the turmoil in these countries means for the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 14, 2026
I looked like an owl, my head swiveling on my neck, trying to take it all in.
From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2024
What isn’t allowed is big-ticket items - “appliances, for example,” he said, swiveling to point at the refrigerators behind him.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 28, 2023
Above the stage, “Elvis” was spelled out in different alphabets, and there were flashing lights that presented an image of him swiveling with a guitar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2023
He kept swiveling his head back and forth, like he expected someone to appear and guide him in the right direction with road flares and fanfare.
From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken
Erling Haaland had been fouled moments before regaining his footing, swivelling and sending Grealish through.
From BBC ● Dec. 3, 2023
Soon after, McGregor sent a fizzing effort just wide of the top corner and a swivelling Giakoumakis then volleyed off target.
From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2022
Arrizabalaga blocked Hause’s initial shot but the centre-back reacted smartly, swivelling at the edge of the six-yard box and shunting the ball over the line.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 21, 2020
A figure in head-to-toe metallic coverings braced one limb against the door frame, swivelling its helmeted head back and forth at us.
From Nature ● Jan. 28, 2020
And swivelling round in his chair, he picked up his pen and began to write.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
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