veer
B2neutral to formal; common in weather reports, navigation, and figurative use.
Definition
Meaning
to change direction suddenly, especially of a moving vehicle or wind.
to change suddenly in opinion, subject, mood, or behavior; to shift or swerve.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies an abrupt, uncontrolled, or unexpected change. Can be used literally (physical movement) or metaphorically (ideas, topics, emotions).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slightly more common in UK English in weather reporting (e.g., 'The wind will veer southerly').
Connotations
In both varieties, often carries a nuance of being forced or influenced by external factors (like wind or road conditions).
Frequency
Moderate frequency in both; slightly higher in UK meteorological contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
veer + adverb/direction (The car veered left.)veer + prepositional phrase (The conversation veered into politics.)veer + from + noun (He never veered from his principles.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “veer off on a tangent”
- “veer and haul (nautical)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly 'The project veered off budget.'
Academic
Used in discussions of changing arguments or theoretical directions. 'Her research veered away from mainstream thought.'
Everyday
Common for driving and weather. 'The bus veered to avoid a cyclist.' 'The wind is veering to the west.'
Technical
Meteorology (wind direction), navigation, aviation, driving.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The lorry veered across two lanes without signalling.
- The debate veered onto the subject of Brexit.
- The wind is expected to veer northeasterly by dawn.
American English
- The truck veered off the highway into a ditch.
- His speech veered toward a discussion of tax reform.
- The storm's path veered east, missing the city.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bike veered to the left.
- The ball veered away from the goal.
- The car veered sharply to avoid the dog.
- The conversation veered onto a more serious topic.
- The politician's stance has veered considerably since the last election.
- The aircraft veered off its assigned flight path.
- The country's economic policy veered erratically between austerity and stimulus.
- The novel's plot veers into the realm of magical realism in its final chapters.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a REindeer suddenly VEERing off the road.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE IS A CHANGE IN DIRECTION (OF A VEHICLE); UNSTABLE OPINIONS/TOPICS ARE ERRATIC VEHICLES.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'to turn' generally (поворачивать). It's specifically a sudden or sharp turn, often unplanned. Closer to 'резко свернуть', 'отклониться'. Avoid using for simple, intentional turns.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'veer' for gradual changes. *'The river veers slowly through the valley.' (Use 'winds' or 'curves').
- Using it without an adverb/direction. *'The car veered.' (Needs 'left', 'sharply', etc.).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'veer' used most appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but it often describes an unplanned or potentially dangerous change. It can be neutral in contexts like weather reports.
They are very close synonyms. 'Swerve' can imply a more violent, evasive movement, while 'veer' can be slightly broader, including changes in topic or opinion.
It's less common but possible, especially if the movement is sudden or erratic. 'He veered across the crowded pavement.'
Almost exclusively intransitive. You cannot 'veer something'. The subject itself changes direction.