# swerve

/ˈswɝv/ (US) · /swˈɜːv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/swerve
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to avoid an impact

verb · CEFR B2

to change direction very quickly while driving or moving to avoid hitting something.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. to avoid a person or thing

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang

to stay away from someone or something you do not like or want to deal with.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. a sudden turn

noun · CEFR B2

a quick, sharp turn to one side while moving.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The car made a sharp swerve to avoid the obstacle.
- The company's sudden swerve toward sustainable energy surprised many of its traditional investors.
- The politician's abrupt swerve from his previous moderate stance alienated his base, who felt he had abandoned the core principles of the party.

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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.