careen

[kuh-reen]

verb (used without object)

1. (of a vehicle) to lean, sway, or tip to one side while in motion.

   The car careened around the corner.

2. (of a ship) to heel over or list.

3. career.

4. South Midland U.S.,  to lean or bend away from the vertical position.

   The barn was careening a little.

verb (used with object)

Nautical.

1. to cause (a ship) to lie over on a side, as for repairs or cleaning; heave down.

2. to clean or repair (a ship lying on its side for the purpose).

3. to cause (a ship) to heel over or list, as by the force of a beam wind.

noun

1. a careening.

2. Nautical.,  the position of a careened ship.

careen

/ kəˈriːn /

verb

1. to sway or cause to sway dangerously over to one side

2. (tr) nautical to cause (a vessel) to keel over to one side, esp in order to clean or repair its bottom

3. (intr) nautical (of a vessel) to keel over to one side

Other Word Forms

• careener noun
• careenage noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of careen¹

1585–95 careen for def. 9; < Middle French carine < Latin carīna keel, nutshell; akin to Greek káryon nut

Word History and Origins

Origin of careen¹

C17: from French carène keel, from Italian carena, from Latin carīna keel

Example Sentences

As the story careens through airports and post offices and New York’s hidey-holes, the cat-and-mouse chase is dizzyingly enjoyable, worthy of a Thomas Perry novel.

From Los Angeles Times

Just in the last eight months, his views on Zelensky have careened between sharply critical to supportive.

From BBC

For years, the county’s juvenile halls have careened from one scandal to the next — a fatal overdose of a teen, an alleged guard-incited “fight club,” an unabating staffing crisis.

From Los Angeles Times

The Cybertruck careened instead into a fire hydrant, then a tree, before bursting into flames.

From Los Angeles Times

More than three years ago, 13-year-old Iran Moreno was playing video games in the bedroom of his Pasadena home when a bullet careened through the window and killed him.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• lurch