swerve /swɜːv $ swɜːrv/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: sweorfan 'to wipe, put away' ]
1 . to make a sudden sideways movement while moving forwards, usually in order to avoid hitting something
swerve violently/sharply
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 etc
swerve from
He would never swerve from the truth.
—swerve noun [countable]