swerve

[ swurv ]

verb (used without object)

, swerved, swerv·ing.

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

verb (used with object)

, swerved, swerv·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• ˈswerver, noun
• ˈswervable, adjective

Other Words From

• un·swerved adjective
• un·swerving adjective
• un·swerving·ly adverb
• un·swerving·ness 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

The additional declaration may swerve X’s guidelines but it doesn’t bypass the U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority, which has reportedly begun monitoring Stake’s X campaign.

From Slate

Sarah Rutledge, copy chief Who you are voting for this year: Kamala Harris Why: This is probably our last best swerve away from fascism!

From Slate

As the city awakens, motorbikes weave through the streets in a hurry, and any driver will tell you that it’s dogs and cows—not cats—around whom they will swerve on their morning commute.

From Salon

Toward the end, when the time for rapprochement is near, Jacobs pulls his one surprise, making an unsuspectingly bold and semi-fanciful swerve, foreshadowed by a story Christina tells that reveals how their twice-widowed dad felt about death.

From Los Angeles Times

During a post-screening Q&A Sunday evening, Tyrnauer explained that he had finished the film, which has been picked up by CNN Films, just before the debate between Trump and Biden, only to have to re-edit it as the campaign quickly took a head-spinning swerve.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deflect
• lurch
• skid
• stray
• veer