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swerve

[ swurv ]
/ swɜrv /
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verb (used without object), swerved, swerv·ing.
to turn aside abruptly in movement or direction; deviate suddenly from the straight or direct course.
verb (used with object), swerved, swerv·ing.
to cause to turn aside: Nothing could swerve him.
noun
an act of swerving; turning aside.
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Origin of swerve

1175–1225; Middle English swerven (v.); Old English sweorfan to rub, file; cognate with Dutch zwerven to rove, Old High German swerban,Old Norse sverfa to file, Gothic afswairban to wipe off

synonym study for swerve

1. See deviate.

OTHER WORDS FROM swerve

un·swerved, adjectiveun·swerv·ing, adjectiveun·swerv·ing·ly, adverbun·swerv·ing·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use swerve in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for swerve

swerve
/ (swɜːv) /

verb
to turn or cause to turn aside, usually sharply or suddenly, from a course
(tr) to avoid (a person or event)
noun
the act, instance, or degree of swerving

Derived forms of swerve

swervable, adjectiveswerver, noun

Word Origin for swerve

Old English sweorfan to scour; related to Old High German swerban to wipe off, Gothic afswairban to wipe off, Old Norse sverfa to file
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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