swivel
Americannoun
-
swivels
plural
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a fastening device that allows the thing fastened to turn around freely upon it, especially to turn in a full circle.
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such a device consisting of two parts, each of which turns around independently, as a compound link of a chain, one part of which turns freely in the other by means of a headed pin or the like.
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a pivoted support allowing a gun to turn around in a horizontal plane.
-
a swivel gun.
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a device attached to a loom and used as a shuttle to weave extra threads in the production of small figures, especially dots.
verb (used with object)
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swivels,
present (3rd person singular)
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swiveled,
past participle, past
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swivelled,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
swiveling,
present participle
-
swivelling
present participle (especially British)
-
to turn or pivot on or as if on a swivel.
He swiveled his chair around.
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to fasten by a swivel; furnish with a swivel.
verb (used without object)
-
swivels,
present (3rd person singular)
-
swiveled,
past participle, past
-
swivelled,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
swiveling,
present participle
-
swivelling
present participle (especially British)
noun
-
a coupling device which allows an attached object to turn freely
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such a device made of two parts which turn independently, such as a compound link of a chain
-
-
a pivot on which is mounted a gun that may be swung from side to side in a horizontal plane
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Also called: swivel gun. the gun itself
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verb
-
to turn or swing on or as if on a pivot
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(tr) to provide with, secure by, or support with a swivel
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
swivelsimple
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swivelssimple
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have swiveledperfect
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have swivelledperfect
-
has swiveledperfect
-
has swivelledperfect
-
am swivelingprogressive
-
am swivellingprogressive
-
are swivelingprogressive
-
are swivellingprogressive
-
is swivelingprogressive
-
is swivellingprogressive
-
have been swivelingperfect progressive
-
have been swivellingperfect progressive
-
has been swivelingperfect progressive
-
has been swivellingperfect progressive
Past
-
swiveledsimple
-
swivelledsimple
-
had swiveledperfect
-
had swivelledperfect
-
was swivelingprogressive
-
was swivellingprogressive
-
were swivelingprogressive
-
were swivellingprogressive
-
had been swivelingperfect progressive
-
had been swivellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of swivel
1275–1325; Middle English (noun), equivalent to swiv- (weak stem of Old English swīfan to revolve; cognate with Old Norse svīfa to turn) + -el instrumental suffix
Explanation
A swivel is a device that allows something to turn freely. Desk chairs are often designed so the seat can swivel atop the base. In the hospital, the TV is usually mounted on a swivel so that patients can adjust it. Swivel comes from a middle English word, swive, meaning to sweep. It’s often used to describe gun mountings, like on a tank or a boat where a gun is fastened down but can still be swung around in any direction. But people can also swivel. If you were in the middle of robbing a bank and you heard a noise behind you, you’d probably swivel around quickly to see what it was.
Vocabulary lists containing swivel
Prisoner B-3087
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When You Reach Me
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The BFG
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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.
See Examples For:
It defines how predictably and agreeably a car will swivel its hips, under braking and throttle, without spinning out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Behind her, an elegantly decorated living room can be seen, with a large L-shaped gray couch set up against one wall opposite two cozy-looking white swivel chairs.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 15, 2026
In the center of the room, real-life visitors arrayed on 26 swivel chairs turn their heads back and forth to take in the supersized Last Supper occurring all around them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
His awareness and agility to swivel and hit it first time off his left foot was even better, with the ball kissing the inside of the post on its way in.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2025
At the same time, I swivel my hoverboard so sharply to my left that I spin 180 degrees.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
The Tiangong Omni swivels its torso wildly from side to side while waving its bent arms in front of its face.
From Slate ● Sep. 27, 2026
We studied the choreography, mimicking his strut to the ballroom stage, the hip swivels, the disco arm roll as he sings about getting Brad and Janet a satanic mechanic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
As the hulking antenna swivels into action, screens inside the control room light up with the names of objects the radar system detects: stars, satellites and abandoned rocket bodies.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
There’s a light, power outlets including a USB-C port, a small mirror and a TV that swivels.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026
Halfway through this speech, the blogger turns on his camera and swivels it toward Mr. Brademas.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
The shop quieted, chairs swiveled, and suddenly everyone was looking at me, at which point I said the one word I’ve never written in any of the last dozen or so Dodger preview columns.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 22, 2026
The pupils, age 6 to 8, adjusted collars, swiveled belts and repositioned the name badges on their chests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 14, 2025
They then swiveled their wings forward to continue on their way.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2023
A little over a year ago, Netflix reported a subscriber loss for the first time in a decade, and Wall Street’s interest swiveled.
From New York Times ● Jul. 15, 2023
Every head at our table swiveled to look at Sahil.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
The on-loan Brighton forward, who replaced the injured Alessia Russo in the squad, controlled a long ball, swivelled and volleyed it into the top corner to make it 3-2.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2025
Having so nearly been out of the tie, Dortmund were right back in it soon afterwards when substitute Sebastien Haller swivelled to crash the ball in at the near post.
From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2024
When Barrett, under pressure in the second half as the Argentine defence rushed up, swivelled and snapped a cross-field kick to expose an out-of-position Mateo Carreras.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2023
Pedro played a one-two with Danilo Cataldi, gathered with his back to goal and swivelled to curl a magnificent shot into the top left corner.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 6, 2023
Slowly, he swivelled his huge right ear until it was like a great shell facing the heavens.
From "The BFG" by Roald Dahl
Americans are swiveling their heads between Iran and Venezuela and wondering what the turmoil in these countries means for the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 14, 2026
I looked like an owl, my head swiveling on my neck, trying to take it all in.
From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2024
What isn’t allowed is big-ticket items - “appliances, for example,” he said, swiveling to point at the refrigerators behind him.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 28, 2023
What isn’t allowed is big-ticket items — “appliances, for example,” he said, swiveling to point at the refrigerators behind him.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 27, 2023
He nodded a little and then his eyes closed, his head swiveling on his neck.
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
Until engineers could upload new software to its fine guidance sensor, the observatory was swivelling all over the sky.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2023
Stina Blackstenius opened the scoring, controlling the ball on her chest and swivelling to finish.
From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2023
Arrizabalaga blocked Hause’s initial shot but the centre-back reacted smartly, swivelling at the edge of the six-yard box and shunting the ball over the line.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 21, 2020
A figure in head-to-toe metallic coverings braced one limb against the door frame, swivelling its helmeted head back and forth at us.
From Nature ● Jan. 28, 2020
The golden ship that had led him here was swivelling in the wind.
From "The Marvels" by Brian Selznick
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