Meaning & use

careen

verb·Advanced

To move swiftly and often uncontrollably in one direction, typically while swaying, tilting, or lurching.

See it in a sentence

The runaway shopping cart careened down the steep parking lot ramp.

The truck careened around the sharp corner, narrowly missing the guardrail.

A note on using this word

In American English, "careen" is often used where British English prefers "career" to describe uncontrolled, swerving movement.

Words with a similar meaning

lurchswerve

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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