careen

American  

[kuh-reen] / kəˈrin /

verb (used without object)

1. (of a vehicle) to lean, sway, or tip to one side while in motion.

   The car careened around the corner.

2. (of a ship) to heel over or list.

3. career.

4. South Midland U.S. to lean or bend away from the vertical position.

   The barn was careening a little.

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verb (used with object)

Nautical.

1. to cause (a ship) to lie over on a side, as for repairs or cleaning; heave down.

2. to clean or repair (a ship lying on its side for the purpose).

3. to cause (a ship) to heel over or list, as by the force of a beam wind.

noun

1. a careening.

2. Nautical. the position of a careened ship.

careen British  

/ kəˈriːn /

verb

1. to sway or cause to sway dangerously over to one side

2. (tr) nautical to cause (a vessel) to keel over to one side, esp in order to clean or repair its bottom

3. (intr) nautical (of a vessel) to keel over to one side

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Other Word Forms

• careenage noun
• careener noun

Etymology

Origin of careen

1585–95 careen for def. 9; < Middle French carine < Latin carīna keel, nutshell; akin to Greek káryon nut

Example Sentences

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

It is all too common for California’s budget to careen from year to year.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2026

When Jack, patrolling alone in a heavy rain, sees Robert’s speeding van careen off a mountain road, he takes possession of the loot, camouflages the crash site and celebrates having become an instant millionaire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

The more worrisome sign came when the bond market began to careen off the edge.

From Slate • Apr. 12, 2025

Her dad turned down a street so steep Emily was amazed everything didn’t just lean over and careen downhill through intersection after intersection into a crashing mess at the bottom.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Related Words

• lurch