veer

¹

[ veer ]

verb (used without object)

1. to change direction or turn about or aside; shift, turn, or change from one course, position, inclination, etc., to another:

   The speaker kept veering from his main topic. The car veered off the road.

   Synonyms: diverge, swerve, deviate

2. (of the wind)
   1. to change direction clockwise ( back ¹def 31 ).
   2. Nautical. to shift to a direction more nearly astern ( haul def 8c ).

verb (used with object)

1. to alter the direction or course of; turn.
2. Nautical. to turn (a vessel) away from the wind; wear.

noun

1. a change of direction, position, course, etc.:

   a sudden veer in a different direction.

veer

²

[ veer ]

verb (used with object)

, Nautical.

1. to slacken or let out:

   to veer chain.

veer

¹

/ vɪə /

verb

1. to alter direction (of); swing around
2. intr to change from one position, opinion, etc, to another
3. intr
   1. (of the wind) to change direction clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the southern
   2. nautical to blow from a direction nearer the stern Compare haul
4. nautical to steer (a vessel) off the wind

noun

1. a change of course or direction

veer

²

/ vɪə /

verb

1. tr; often foll by out or away nautical to slacken or pay out (cable or chain)

Other Words From

• veering·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of veer¹

First recorded in 1575–85, veer is from the Middle French word virer to turn

Origin of veer²

1425–75; late Middle English vere < Middle Dutch vieren to let out

Word History and Origins

Origin of veer¹

C16: from Old French virer, probably of Celtic origin; compare Welsh gwyro to diverge

Origin of veer²

C16: from Dutch vieren, from Old High German fieren to give direction

Example Sentences

In fact, I’m writing this with my eyes closed just in case I veer into a Why We’re Doomed essay.

From Los Angeles Times

What is so hard about this moment is the realization that there is going to be a much darker challenge before us, and things are going to veer further away from what we want to ultimately achieve before we can turn that corner.

From Slate

Several times in that run, they have been locked on for the winners' enclosure, only to veer into the rails in the final quarter.

From BBC

So, yes, start running for president — but veer a bit toward the middle.

From Los Angeles Times

The idea seems to have been that Cheney is a “chickenhawk” because she advocates for wars she herself doesn’t serve in—but it did veer pretty quickly into a sort of firing squad fantasy scenario, didn’t it?

From Slate

Related Words

• bend
• deflect
• depart
• deviate
• diverge
• divert
• drift
• pivot
• shift
• skid
• swerve
• swing
• twist
• whirl