SWERVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does swerve mean? 

• SWERVE (noun)
  The noun SWERVE has 2 senses:

1. the act of turning aside suddenly

2. an erratic deflection from an intended course

  Familiarity information: SWERVE used as a noun is rare.

• SWERVE (verb)
  The verb SWERVE has 1 sense:

1. turn sharply; change direction abruptly

  Familiarity information: SWERVE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SWERVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of turning aside suddenly

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

swerve; swerving; veering

Hypernyms ("swerve" is a kind of...):

turn; turning (the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course)

Derivation:

swerve (turn sharply; change direction abruptly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An erratic deflection from an intended course

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

swerve; yaw

Hypernyms ("swerve" is a kind of...):

turn; turning (a movement in a new direction)

Derivation:

swerve (turn sharply; change direction abruptly)

• SWERVE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they swerve    ... he / she / it swerves   
Past simple: swerved   
Past participle: swerved   
-ing form: swerving   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Turn sharply; change direction abruptly

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

curve; cut; sheer; slew; slue; swerve; trend; veer

Context example:

The motorbike veered to the right

Hypernyms (to "swerve" is one way to...):

turn (change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "swerve"):

peel off (leave a formation)

yaw (swerve off course momentarily)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

swerve (the act of turning aside suddenly)

swerve (an erratic deflection from an intended course)

swerving (the act of turning aside suddenly)

 Context examples 

I have a great mind to go back into Norfolk directly, and put everything at once on such a footing as cannot be afterwards swerved from.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

This was the favourite trick of the wolf breeds—to rush in upon him, either directly or with an unexpected swerve, in the hope of striking his shoulder and overthrowing him.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Therefore, since my acquaintance were pleased to think my poor endeavours might not be unacceptable to my country, I imposed on myself, as a maxim never to be swerved from, that I would strictly adhere to truth; neither indeed can I be ever under the least temptation to vary from it, while I retain in my mind the lectures and example of my noble master and the other illustrious Houyhnhnms of whom I had so long the honour to be an humble hearer.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I may augur, from the silence of my family, that they object to the resolution I have taken; but I should not allow myself to be swerved from the path of duty, Mr. Copperfield, even by my papa and mama, were they still living.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Again and even nearer came the rallying Spaniards, and again with cry of fear and stooping bodies they swerved off to right and left, but the English still stood stolid and observant among their rocks.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I had just made out that the gig contained a man and a woman, when suddenly I saw it swerve off the road, and come with a galloping horse and bounding wheels right across the moor, crashing through the gorse bushes, and sinking down to the hubs in the heather and bracken.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I bound myself by the required promise, in a most impassioned manner; called upon Traddles to witness it; and denounced myself as the most atrocious of characters if I ever swerved from it in the least degree.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)