swivel
Americannoun
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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swivelssimple
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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:
After Iger departed, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones pushed back his swivel chair and stood to address the room.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
It defines how predictably and agreeably a car will swivel its hips, under braking and throttle, without spinning out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 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
In the center of the room, real-life visitors arrayed on 26 swivel chairs turn their heads back and forth to take in the supersized Last Supper occurring all around them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
Mr. Anderson leaned back in his big swivel chair.
From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings
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
The device, which looks like a small table lamp, has an eyeless, mouthless head that lights up and swivels.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 22, 2023
He swivels in his chair to point to it over Zoom.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 2023
Kevon’s head swivels to me, waiting for me to put the smack down on Angel.
From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist
The pupils, age 6 to 8, adjusted collars, swiveled belts and repositioned the name badges on their chests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2025
And then, just like the wartime industries of L.A., the peacetime ports swiveled to more commercial operations.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2025
The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which also takes into account longer-term economic growth and inflation, initially tumbled after the Fed’s announcement but then swiveled.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 21, 2024
Suddenly, the head of a gigantic doll swiveled around and she froze, but it was too late.
From New York Times ● Nov. 22, 2023
Mr. Katz swiveled around, but Raizel was already lunging forward.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
The best chance of the half fell to McFadden just over the half-hour mark when she swivelled and fired a half-cleared corner inches wide of the post.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2023
However, the forward made no mistake when he swivelled in the area and his low effort found the bottom corner.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2023
Callum McGregor and Jota had tested Allan McGregor before Kyogo swivelled and lashed past the Rangers goalkeeper's grasp after being picked out by Matt O'Riley's cutback.
From BBC ● Apr. 8, 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
“Every second, every volley, your head is swiveling from side to side,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 22, 2025
I looked like an owl, my head swiveling on my neck, trying to take it all in.
From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2024
Heading downhill, drivers from 46th are supposed to use a stop sign, while swiveling their heads to look uphill, before proceeding onto northbound Marine View.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 28, 2023
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
The wall on Kyle’s right swung open, revealing six swiveling sections, each pivoting panel maybe twenty feet long, all skittering sideways and gliding backward to create new walls and reconfigured pathways.
From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein
"I am coming back home with just this, just my blanket," he told the BBC at Abuja's international airport, swivelling to reveal a black backpack.
From BBC ● May 6, 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
After some slow carousel passing involving Nathan Aké and Eric García, suddenly De Bruyne tapped a pass to Mahrez and his release had Sterling swivelling and shooting straight at Schmeichel.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 27, 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
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.
