# veer

/ˈvɪɹ/ (US) · /vˈiə/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/veer
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

to change direction suddenly. You use this when a car, a person, or even a conversation moves away from its original path.

For teachers: to change direction or course suddenly. Often describes physical movement or a shift in the focus of a discussion.

## Examples

- The car had to veer left to avoid the pothole.
- The driver was forced to veer sharply to the right when a deer suddenly jumped into the road.
- The interview began with standard questions about the candidate's experience but started to veer into more personal territory as the afternoon progressed.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive and often takes the prepositions 'off', 'away', or 'into'.

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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.