swerving

IPA/swɜːv/
IPA/swɝːv/

swerving — verb

  • swervingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • swervings3rd person singular
  • swervinging-ing form
  • swervingedpast simple

1. to move off the line you were travelling on by turning quickly to one side, ofte

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to move off the line you were travelling on by turning quickly to one side, often because something suddenly blocks your way

例句

Kemi was swerving left when a scooter shot out of the alley.

pattern: swerve left/right when danger appears

The bus started swerving across the lane after the driver dropped his phone.

pattern: swerve across + lane

同義詞
  • veer

    often suggests a smoother or less sudden movement than swerving

  • zigzag

    implies repeated side-to-side movement, not one sharp change

  • deviate

    more formal and often less vivid than swerving

反義詞

文法句型

be swerving + direction

start / keep swerving

swerve around + obstacle

swerve to avoid + danger

用法筆記

Most often used for vehicles, bicycles, or moving bodies. It usually suggests a sudden loss of a straight path, not a normal planned turn at a corner.

常見錯誤

❌The taxi was swerving from the dog.
✅The taxi was swerving to avoid the dog.
💡for a physical obstacle, use 'to avoid' or 'around', not 'from' by itself.

2. to move away from the beliefs, promises, or course you had been following, inste

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to move away from the beliefs, promises, or course you had been following, instead of keeping to them

例句

The minister is swerving from the tax plan she defended last winter.

pattern: swerve from + plan

By backing the ban, the party was swerving from its free-speech promise.

pattern: swerve from + promise

同義詞
  • deviate

    formal and broad; it can describe many kinds of departure from a norm

  • back away

    more informal and often highlights a retreat from a stated position

  • abandon

    stronger because it suggests leaving the principle completely

反義詞
  • stick to

    means to continue following the same plan or principle

  • hold to

    formal; stresses continuing to support a stated belief or rule

文法句型

be swerving from + promise

swerve from + principle

swerve from + agreed line

用法筆記

Usually followed by 'from' and an abstract noun such as principle, promise, or line. This sense is common in political, legal, and moral discussion rather than everyday traffic scenes.

常見錯誤

❌The truck was swerving from the lane.
✅The truck was swerving across the lane.
💡this formal sense needs something abstract after 'from', such as a promise, rule, or principle.