swerveswerve /swɜːv $ swɜːrv/ verb [intransitive] 
The car swerved sharply to avoid the dog.swerve across/off/into etc The bus swerved off the road.2[usually in negatives] formal to change from an idea, course of action, purpose etcswerve from He would never swerve from the truth.—swerve noun [countable]
WORD ORIGINswerve
Origin:
Old English sweorfan ‘to wipe, put away’VERB TABLE
swerve
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | swerve |
| he, she, it | swerves | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | swerved |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have swerved |
| he, she, it | has swerved | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had swerved |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will swerve |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have swerved |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am swerving |
| he, she, it | is swerving | |
| you, we, they | are swerving | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was swerving |
| you, we, they | were swerving | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been swerving |
| he, she, it | has been swerving | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been swerving |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be swerving |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been swerving |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Dozens were injured when a passenger bus swerved into the wrong lane and slammed into another bus.
- She swerved to avoid the cyclist.
- The driver swerved to avoid a child, and crashed into a signpost.
- Cars are wet as they drive by, swerving dangerously.
- I swerved to avoid a solitary drunk who dreamily crossed the road backwards.
- In the discus-throwing when his turn came and he hurled the heavy missile, it swerved and fell among the spectators.
- Instead of swerving right, I swerved left, barreling straight into him with the fender.
- It was a great wordless whoop that echoed round the Castle, and Ruth saw all the spears swerve towards them.
- Quick as she was, Feargal was quicker and swerved swiftly to one side.
- Unless we swerve soon, we will drown.
Longman Language Activatorto change your direction when you are walking or driving
to change your direction when you are walking or driving: · He saw a police car up ahead, so he turned and went down a side street.· Soon after leaving harbour, the ships turned and headed north.turn left/right: · Turn left at the next intersection.turn back: · It's getting late - I think we should turn back before it gets dark.turn off (=leave a street in order to go down another street): · Turn off Delaney Road just after the church.turn onto/into (=start going along another street after changing direction): · Turn onto Lowell Street, then go straight for three blocks.turn a corner: · I turned a corner and nearly ran into Caroline.
to turn while you are moving so that you start going in a different direction: · The horse abruptly changed direction, nearly throwing the rider off.· Changing direction on skis isn't difficult once you've learned the technique.
if a vehicle, ship, or aircraft changes course , it changes the direction in which it is travelling: · The yacht changed course and approached the island.· The plane must change course to avoid flying through the storm.
if a vehicle or moving object veers , it suddenly and unexpectedly changes direction: veer off/away/across etc: · The car suddenly veered across the road into oncoming traffic.· The boat was heading for the rocks but at the last minute veered off in another direction.
if a vehicle or moving object swerves , it suddenly changes direction, especially in order to avoid hitting something: · The driver swerved to avoid a child, and crashed into a signpost.swerve across/into/towards etc: · Dozens were injured when a passenger bus swerved into the wrong lane and slammed into another bus.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The car swerved sharply to avoid the dog.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
1to make a sudden sideways movement while moving forwards, usually in order to avoid hitting somethingswerve violently/sharply The car swerved sharply to avoid the dog.· He kept it rolling and swerved off at the first exit on the right.· It swerved off the road; killed three of the children; and badly injured Anne Maguire.· He swerved off the track and into the gravel trap backwards, praying he wouldn't clout the wall.
NOUN· Most potholes can only be seen a few yards ahead, and cars swerving without warning hardly contribute to road safety.· Suddenly, cars swerved to block the road, and dozens of security officers fanned out through the crowd.· The car reels and swerves up on to the pavement, crashing into a shopfront and shattering itself and the window panes.· The black car swerved out in an attempt to get alongside her.
· Suddenly, cars swerved to block the road, and dozens of security officers fanned out through the crowd.
The car swerved sharply to avoid the dog.swerve across/off/into etc The bus swerved off the road.2[usually in negatives] formal to change from an idea, course of action, purpose etcswerve from He would never swerve from the truth.—swerve noun [countable]