swerve

[swurv]

verb (used without object)

swerved, swerving 

1. to turn aside abruptly in movement or direction; deviate suddenly from the straight or direct course.

verb (used with object)

swerved, swerving 

1. to cause to turn aside.

   Nothing could swerve him.

noun

1. an act of swerving; turning aside.

swerve

/ swɜːv /

verb

1. to turn or cause to turn aside, usually sharply or suddenly, from a course

2. (tr) to avoid (a person or event)

noun

1. the act, instance, or degree of swerving

Other Word Forms

• swerver noun
• swervable adjective
• unswerved adjective
• unswerving adjective
• unswervingly adverb
• unswervingness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of swerve¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of swerve¹

Old English sweorfan to scour; related to Old High German swerban to wipe off, Gothic afswairban to wipe off, Old Norse sverfa to file

Synonym Study

See deviate.

Example Sentences

She is a supremely balanced runner with a galloping stride, a silken swerve and the daring to put them to use on the biggest stage.

From BBC

A Southern California man with cerebral palsy used his iPhone to record his frustration as a delivery robot continuously swerved into the path of his mobility scooter before suddenly braking, resulting in a bot-on-chair collision.

From Los Angeles Times

The woman in the other car, in her early seventies, had a medical episode while driving and swerved straight into my lane and hit me.

From BBC

This is why, for example, an officer may pull over a motorist whose car has swerved on the highway.

From Los Angeles Times

And the same thing happened when he misjudged the exit of the 180mph+ swerves at Eau Rouge and went slightly outside track limits in qualifying for the grand prix.

From BBC

Related Words

• deflect 
• lurch 
• skid 
• stray 
• veer