swerve

IPA/swɜːv/
KK[swˈɚv]IPA/swɝːv/

swerve — verb

  • swervepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • swerves3rd person singular
  • swerving-ing form
  • swervedpast simple

1. to move sideways suddenly while travelling forward, especially to avoid hitting

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to move sideways suddenly while travelling forward, especially to avoid hitting something or someone in your path

Example

A dog ran into the street, and the taxi swerved sharply to avoid hitting it.

swerve + adverb (sharply) + infinitive of purpose

Sayaka lost control of the bicycle and swerved into a parked van.

swerve + into + object hit

Common collocations
  • swerve sharply
  • swerve suddenly
  • swerve to avoid
  • swerve into
  • swerve off the road
Synonyms
  • veer

    less sudden or urgent, often used for gradual change of direction

  • dodge

    implies a quick, deliberate movement to avoid something specific

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

swerve + adverb/preposition

swerve + direct object

Usage Note

Frequently paired with a directional preposition (into, onto, around, past) or an adverb of manner (sharply, suddenly, wildly). Can be transitive (swerve the vehicle) or intransitive (the vehicle swerved).

Common Mistakes

The car swinged to avoid the hole in the road.
The car swerved to avoid the hole in the road.
'Swing' means to move back and forth; 'swerve' means a sudden sideways change while moving forward.
She swerved the bicycle and did not hit the box.
She swerved the bicycle to avoid the box.
When describing the reason for swerving, use 'to avoid' or 'to miss' rather than a negative result clause.

2. to refuse to change your beliefs, decisions, or plans even when other people try

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to refuse to change your beliefs, decisions, or plans even when other people try to persuade you or when the situation becomes difficult

Example

The judge never swerved from his belief that everyone deserves a fair trial.

never + swerve from + belief

Eve has not swerved from her plan to study medicine, despite the long years of training.

not swerve from + plan/decision

Common collocations
  • not swerve from
  • never swerve from
  • swerve from one's principles
  • swerve from a decision
Synonyms
  • remain true to

    more common in everyday speech; sounds less formal than swerve (negative)

  • hold to

    slightly older or more literary; emphasises active maintenance of a position

  • adhere to

    more formal than swerve; suggests strict following of rules or principles

Antonyms
  • abandon

    to give up a principle or plan completely

  • waver

    to become uncertain or change position temporarily

Grammar Patterns

not swerve from + noun phrase

never swerve from + noun phrase

Usage Note

Almost always used in negative constructions (not swerve from, never swerve from) or with auxiliary did/did not. Affirmative uses are very rare and sound literary or dated.

Common Mistakes

He swerved from his principles and became more honest.
He did not swerve from his principles and remained honest.
In this figurative sense, 'swerve from' is normally used in the negative to express steadfastness, not in the affirmative to describe change.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe a change in direction, but they differ in speed, intent, and typical use. Swerve is the most common for sudden, unintended directional change to avoid a hazard, especially in traffic contexts (the car swerved to miss the cyclist). Veer suggests a more gradual or less urgent movement off course; it sounds less panicked and works well for vehicles, winds, or conversations that move off topic. Dodge implies a deliberate, quick movement by a person or animal to avoid something specific, and is common in sports or combat contexts. Turn is the neutral, general term for any directional change and can replace the others in most situations, though it lacks the urgency of swerve or the agility of dodge. For example: The cyclist swerved to avoid a pothole; the politician veered away from the sensitive question; the goalkeeper dodged the ball; the driver turned left at the lights.

swerve ↗veer ↗dodge ↗turn ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • swerve to avoid
  • not swerve from
  • never swerve from

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Swerve comes from Old English sweorfan, meaning 'to rub, file, or turn aside'. This word shares a root with Old Norse sverfa ('to whirl') and Old High German swebran ('to wipe off'). By the Middle English period, the sense had shifted to the modern meaning of turning aside suddenly while moving forward. The figurative use — staying true to beliefs or principles — emerged in the 16th century and is now the dominant usage in formal writing.