swerve
10 synonyms for swerve, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To turn suddenly away from a straight path, often to avoid hitting something.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To turn suddenly away from a straight path, often to avoid hitting something.
“The driver swerved to avoid the deer in the road.”
How to use swerve
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
swerve to avoid
swerve off the road
swerve into another lane
Etymology
From Old English sweorfan, meaning "to rub, file, or turn aside" — related to old Germanic words for wiping and turning.
Full origin of swerve →Frequently asked questions
What does “swerve” mean?
The word “swerve” means to turn suddenly away from a straight path, often to avoid hitting something. In plain terms, to suddenly veer off a straight line, usually to dodge something.
How do you pronounce “swerve”?
“Swerve” is pronounced swurv (/swɝv/ in IPA).
How do you use “swerve” in a sentence?
Here is “swerve” used in a sentence: “The driver swerved to avoid the deer in the road.”
What part of speech is “swerve”?
Depending on how it is used, “swerve” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “swerve” come from?
The word “swerve” comes from Old English. From Old English sweorfan, meaning "to rub, file, or turn aside" — related to old Germanic words for wiping and turning.
How many meanings does “swerve” have?
“Swerve” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to turn suddenly away from a straight path, often to avoid hitting something.
