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
Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
For some additional coziness, pick up a barrel chair with a swivel base that’s covered in a soft boucle.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
The Osprey was the first production tiltrotor—an aircraft with propellers that can swivel on their mounts, pointing up for vertical takeoff and tilting forward for horizontal flight.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swivel
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Noun
Its full 360-degree swivel head and extra-scrubby (yet extra-gentle) mopping pads were similarly made with bigger messes in mind.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
For some additional coziness, pick up a barrel chair with a swivel base that’s covered in a soft boucle.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
Students come in, pick up a cart or basket, and swivel through the aisles, adding apples, noodles, potatoes and milk to their haul.
—Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
The Osprey was the first production tiltrotor—an aircraft with propellers that can swivel on their mounts, pointing up for vertical takeoff and tilting forward for horizontal flight.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swivel
Cite this Entry
“Swivel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swivel. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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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