What does swivelled mean?
“Swivelled” is the past tense of “swivel”, meaning to turn or rotate around a fixed point. It often describes a person or object making a quick, deliberate pivoting movement, as when a chair turns, a camera rotates towards an event, or someone swivels around to look behind them. The word can also imply that someone has redirected their attention, often abruptly: a viewer swivels towards a speaker or a monitor swivels away from a screen. Although similar to “turned” and “rotated” in general meaning, “swivelled” more specifically suggests movement around a central axis or pivot. It is especially common in descriptions of furniture, cameras, vehicle parts, and people turning in place. The spelling “swivelled” is standard in British English, while American English generally uses “swiveled”.
verbTo turn or rotate something on an axis, especially by means of a pivoting movement. In the past tense, it describes an object or person that has made such a turn.
- To rotate or turn on a central axis, especially with a quick, pivoting movement.
- To turn one's head or body sharply toward something or someone.
- To change direction or orientation, especially in response to movement or attention.
"The camera swivelled towards the speaker as the interview began."
"The monitor swivelled away from the wall."
"She swivelled in her chair when she heard her name."
A swivel is one of the oldest simple machines: it lets an object turn while its base stays put.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does swivelled come from?
The word “swivel” comes from Middle English and is related to an older word meaning to turn or swing. Its development reflects the long-established mechanical use of a pivoting joint that allows a part to rotate while remaining attached to a fixed base. Modern forms retain the sense of a quick turn or change of direction, especially for chairs, heads, and cameras.
Related word forms
How swivelled is actually used
The British spelling is usually written “swivelled”, while the US spelling is usually “swiveled”. The verb is commonly used for cameras, chairs, heads, and other objects that can rotate around a fixed point.