swerve

[swɜː(ɹ)v]

[swɝv]

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swerves - swerve

A swerve is when someone or something suddenly changes direction quickly, often unexpectedly. It can also refer to the act of intentionally steering away from something.

When people talk about a car's tires making a swerve, they mean that the driver took their foot off the gas or turned the wheel sharply, causing the vehicle to veer abruptly to one side. In some cases, like in sports or games, swerving can be a deliberate tactic to avoid obstacles or opponents. For instance, a tennis player might use a swerve to dodge an incoming ball. But even outside of competition or driving, we might say someone's plan took a swerve when it unexpectedly went off track.

How common is "swerve"?

Word swerve is considered rare in modern English.
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.

Definitions

noun

A sudden movement out of a straight line, for example to avoid a collision.
A deviation from duty or custom.

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verb

To stray; to wander; to rove.
To go out of a straight line; to deflect.
To wander from any line prescribed, or from a rule or duty; to depart from what is established by law, duty, custom, or the like; to deviate.
To bend; to incline.
To climb or move upward by winding or turning.
To turn aside or deviate to avoid impact.
Of a projectile, to travel in a curved line
To drive in the trajectory of another vehicle to stop it, to cut off.

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Real examples of "swerves" in context

John Cena Reveals Peacemaker Season 2 Surprises, Reminisces on His First WWE Match (Extended)

Interview

We got tons of story swerves and stuff you'll never see coming.

7:19