veer

¹

[veer]

verb (used without object)

1. to change direction or turn about or aside; shift, turn, or change from one course, position, inclination, etc., to another.

   The speaker kept veering from his main topic. The car veered off the road.

   Synonyms: diverge, swerve, deviate

2. (of the wind)

   1. to change direction clockwise (back ).

   2. Nautical.,  to shift to a direction more nearly astern (haul ).

verb (used with object)

1. to alter the direction or course of; turn.

2. Nautical.,  to turn (a vessel) away from the wind; wear.

noun

1. a change of direction, position, course, etc..

   a sudden veer in a different direction.

veer

²

[veer]

verb (used with object)

Nautical.

1. to slacken or let out.

   to veer chain.

veer

¹

/ vɪə /

verb

1. to alter direction (of); swing around

2. (intr) to change from one position, opinion, etc, to another

3. (intr)

   1. (of the wind) to change direction clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the southern

   2. nautical to blow from a direction nearer the stern Compare haul

4. nautical to steer (a vessel) off the wind

noun

1. a change of course or direction

veer

²

/ vɪə /

verb

1. (tr; often foll by out or away) nautical to slacken or pay out (cable or chain)

Other Word Forms

• veeringly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of veer¹

First recorded in 1575–85, veer is from the Middle French word virer to turn

Origin of veer²

1425–75; late Middle English vere < Middle Dutch vieren to let out

Word History and Origins

Origin of veer¹

C16: from Old French virer, probably of Celtic origin; compare Welsh gwyro to diverge

Origin of veer²

C16: from Dutch vieren, from Old High German fieren to give direction

Example Sentences

“It’s more of a self-effacing humor. Their favorite target is themselves. And John did that. On screen, I felt his willingness and joy in self-effacing humor that never really veered into self-loathing humor.”

From Los Angeles Times

And yet it's very much classic Forest, a club that veers from success to self-made disaster like a learner driver who can't stay in a lane.

From BBC

When prominent political or cultural figures die in the U.S., the remembrance of their life often veers into hagiography.

From Salon

The fear is patriotism will veer into jingoism in the galleries.

From BBC

“It was just a magical time,” he adds before letting the music pour from his fingers for a moment: long, rippling melodic lines that keep veering between a major and a minor key.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bend 
• deflect 
• depart 
• deviate 
• diverge 
• divert 
• drift 
• pivot 
• shift 
• skid 
• swerve 
• swing 
• twist 
• whirl