swerve
SWURV
/swɜːrv/
To turn aside abruptly or sharply from a straight line or course.
Implies a sudden, urgent change of direction, often executed to avoid an immediate collision.
The story behind the word. Hailing from Old English sweorfan, meaning 'to scrub or rub away', the word shifted in Middle English to mean veering or turning aside. The mental image moved from filing away an edge to veering away from an obstacle.
Word relationships
- veer: Veer implies a shift in direction that may be gradual or wind-driven, while swerve is sharp and sudden.
- dodge: Dodge emphasizes quick movement of body or vehicle to evade an object.
- maintain course: Maintaining course means continuing straight without turning.
- align: Align means keeping strictly straight in line.
Commonly confused with
- swivel: Swivel means rotating around a fixed point, whereas swerve means veering sharply along a path.
Word family
- swerving (noun): The action of making a sudden directional turn.
Collocations
- swerve sharply
- swerve to avoid
- sudden swerve
Idioms & expressions
- swerve out of the way
Example sentences
- "The driver had to swerve into the breakdown lane to avoid striking a deer on the road." Emergency driving narrative
- "A sudden swerve saved the cyclist when a parked car door flew open without warning." Urban commute
Memory hook
SWERVE rhymes with CURVE—a sharp, sudden curve to avoid danger. Swerve = Sharp emergency dodge.
When not to use
Do not use for smooth, planned lane changes or deliberate turns at intersections.
Fun facts
- Driver education courses often teach drivers 'don't veer for deer' because swerving sharply into oncoming traffic causes more severe accidents than hitting small animals.
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