Word
swerve
US/ˈswɝv/
UK/swˈɜːv/
Definitions
01to avoid an impact
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to change direction very quickly while driving or moving to avoid hitting something.
v. to deviate suddenly from a straight course, typically in order to avoid a collision.
“The driver had to swerve to avoid a cat that ran into the road.”
“The cyclist was forced to swerve sharply into the breakdown lane to avoid a car door that had been opened without warning.”
Usage
Intransitive; often followed by 'to avoid' or 'into'.
02to avoid a person or thing
C1 · Advanced Slang
v. to stay away from someone or something you do not like or want to deal with.
v. to deliberately avoid, snub, or bypass a person, social obligation, or situation.
“I decided to swerve the party because I knew my ex-boyfriend would be there.”
“He tried to swerve the difficult conversation by pretending he had an urgent phone call to take.”
Usage
Transitive; takes a direct object (the person or event being avoided).
Teaching tip
This sense is common in British slang; learners should be aware it sounds very informal and slightly dismissive.
03a sudden turn
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a quick, sharp turn to one side while moving.
n. an act of swerving; a sudden change of direction.
“A sudden swerve of the bus sent several passengers sliding across their seats.”
“The pilot managed a controlled swerve on the runway to stay clear of the debris left by the previous aircraft.”
Real-World Examples
“Then comes the split-second decision: swerve into another lane, or power through and hope your tyres survive the impact?” “Union officials will push for JLR to swerve compulsory job losses in favour of retraining or voluntary redundancy where possible.” Etymology
From Middle English swerven, swarven, from Old English sweorfan (“to file; rub; polish; scour; turn aside”), from Proto-Germanic swerbaną (“to rub off; wipe; mop”), from Proto-Indo-European swerbʰ- (“to turn; wipe; sweep”). Cognate with West Frisian swerve (“to wander; roam; swerve”), Dutch zwerven (“to wander; stray; roam”), Low German swarven (“to swerve; wander; riot”), Swedish dialectal svärva (“to wipe”), Icelandic sverfa (“to file”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/swerve