# sheer

/ˈʃɪɹ/ (US) · /ʃˈiə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sheer
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. complete or extreme

adjective · CEFR B2

used to emphasize how great, heavy, or extreme something is.

For teachers: used as an intensifier to emphasize the magnitude, weight, or degree of a quality.

- The sheer size of the mountain made us feel very small.
- The project succeeded through sheer persistence, as the team refused to give up despite numerous technical setbacks and funding cuts.

### 4. to swerve

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to suddenly change direction, especially for a ship or vehicle.

For teachers: to deviate or swerve suddenly from a set course; frequently used in nautical contexts.

- The ship began to sheer away from the rocky coastline.
- The vessel sheered wildly to port as the steering gear failed, narrowly avoiding a collision with the approaching tanker.

### 5. a curve or swerve

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a sudden change in direction or the curve of a ship's deck.

For teachers: the longitudinal upward curve of a ship's deck; also refers to a sudden change in a vessel's heading.

- The boat had a beautiful sheer that made it look very elegant on the water.
- The naval architect adjusted the sheer of the hull to improve the vessel's aesthetic profile and its ability to shed water in heavy seas.

## Examples

- Winning the lottery is sheer luck.
- The project succeeded through sheer determination, not because it was easy.
- The sheer scale of the disaster overwhelmed the emergency services, which were unprepared for a crisis of that magnitude.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.