often attributive
: a device joining two parts so that one or both can pivot freely (as on a bolt or pin)
swiveled or swivelled; swiveling or swivelling
ˈswi-və-liŋ 
ˈswiv-liŋ
: to turn on or as if on a swivel
swiveled his eyes in various directions
: to swing or turn on or as if on a swivel
Examples of swivel in a Sentence
Noun
The gun was mounted on a swivel.
Verb
She swiveled in her seat to check the time.
She swiveled the chair around to face us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
The popular Drew Barrymore accent chair is on sale in gray charcoal bouclé and has a 360-degree swivel base.
—Ali Faccenda, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2025
The monkey swivels its head a quarter-turn and bares its considerable burden of teeth.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swivel
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Noun
Catchers have their heads behind a mask and on a swivel.
—Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
The popular Drew Barrymore accent chair is on sale in gray charcoal bouclé and has a 360-degree swivel base.
—Ali Faccenda, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
Photographers’ lenses swiveled every time someone came around the corner.
—Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2025
The monkey swivels its head a quarter-turn and bares its considerable burden of teeth.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swivel
Cite this Entry
“Swivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swivel. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
swivel
1 of 2 noun
swiv·el
ˈswiv-əl
: a device joining two parts so that one or both can turn freely
swivel
2 of 2 verb
swiveled or swivelled; swiveling or swivelling
ˈswiv-(ə-)liŋ
: to turn on or as if on a swivel
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