swerve

UK: /ˈswɜː^rv/ US: /swɝv/ ,(swûrv)

Inflections of 'swerve' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

swerves

v 3rd person singular

swerving

v pres p

swerved

v past

swerved

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

swerve /swɜrv/   v., swerved, swerv•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to turn aside suddenly or sharply in movement or direction: [no object]
   He swerved to avoid hitting the child.
   [~ + object]
   She swerved the car to avoid the stalled vehicle ahead of her.

n. [countable]

2. the act of swerving.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

swerve (swûrv),  v., swerved, swerv•ing, n. 

v.i. 

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

v.t. 

2. to cause to turn aside:
   Nothing could swerve him.

n. 

3. an act of swerving;
   turning aside.

• 1175–1225; Middle English swerven (verb, verbal); 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 

Synonyms

• 1. See deviate. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

swerve / swɜːv/ verb

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

noun

1. the act, instance, or degree of swerving

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

ˈswervable adjective

ˈswerver noun