MEANING
To change direction, often unexpectedly or by a noticeable angle.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- veer off course
- veer toward a topic
On the page
The discussion veered from costs to questions of trust.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- veer
- Past tense
- veered
- Past participle
- veered
- Present participle
- veering
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- veer
- Present continuous
- am/is/are veering
- Present perfect
- have/has veered
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been veering
- Past
- veered
- Past continuous
- was/were veering
- Past perfect
- had veered
- Past perfect continuous
- had been veering
- Future
- will veer
- Future continuous
- will be veering
- Future perfect
- will have veered
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been veering
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: veer; veers; veered; veered; veering Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: veers.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.