careen
Americanverb (used without object)
-
(of a vehicle) to lean, sway, or tip to one side while in motion.
The car careened around the corner.
-
(of a ship) to heel over or list.
-
South Midland U.S. to lean or bend away from the vertical position.
The barn was careening a little.
verb (used with object)
-
to cause (a ship) to lie over on a side, as for repairs or cleaning; heave down.
-
to clean or repair (a ship lying on its side for the purpose).
-
to cause (a ship) to heel over or list, as by the force of a beam wind.
noun
-
a careening.
-
Nautical. the position of a careened ship.
verb
-
to sway or cause to sway dangerously over to one side
-
(tr) nautical to cause (a vessel) to keel over to one side, esp in order to clean or repair its bottom
-
(intr) nautical (of a vessel) to keel over to one side
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has careenedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have careenedperfect
-
is careeningprogressive 3rd person singular
-
are careeningprogressive
-
careenssingular 3rd person
-
careeningparticiple
-
have been careeningperfect progressive
-
has been careeningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
am careeningprogressive 1st person singular
Past
-
had careenedperfect
-
had been careeningperfect progressive
-
careenedparticiple
-
were careeningprogressive plural
-
was careeningprogressive singular
-
careenedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of careen
1585–95 careen for def. 9; < Middle French carine < Latin carīna keel, nutshell; akin to Greek káryon nut
Explanation
Whether it’s an unsteady ship, a speeding bus, or a person who is woozy, use the verb careen to describe something that’s teetering from side to side. When the word careen first entered the English language in the sixteenth century, it was used to describe a beached ship that was turned on its side for repair. The word can still refer to making those kinds of nautical repairs, but now you’re more likely to hear the word used to describe something that is swaying from side to side. You may feel like a ship out of control if you careen madly through a crowd or if you careen down a steep hill on skis.
Vocabulary lists containing careen
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Words Every Pirate Should Know
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Esperanza Rising
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Even the slightest misstep made me feel like I was about to careen out of control.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026
A daunting prospect after mechanical failure caused his Lotus car to careen into barriers at 160mph in Jerez in 1990.
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
Her sounds careen and resonate in avant-garde ways that feel primal, even tectonic.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2025
The more worrisome sign came when the bond market began to careen off the edge.
From Slate • Apr. 12, 2025
Milk and beer—I felt sad, watching the wagon careen dangerously as they went around a corner.
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
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.
