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careen

verb
ca·​reen | \ kə-ˈrēn How to pronounce careen (audio) \
careened; careening; careens

Definition of careen

 (Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to put (a ship or boat) on a beach especially in order to clean, caulk, or repair the hull
2 : to cause to heel over High waves careened the boat.

intransitive verb

1a : to clean, caulk, or repair the hull of a boat
b : to undergo this process
2 : to heel over
3 : to sway from side to side : lurch a careening carriage being pulled wildly 
 by a team of runaway horses— J. P. Getty
4 : career The car careened down the hill.

careen

noun

Definition of careen (Entry 2 of 2)

archaic
: the act or process of careening : the state of being careened
Synonyms Careen and Career More Example Sentences Learn More about careen

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Synonyms for careen

Synonyms: Verb

lurch, pitch, rock, roll, seesaw, sway, toss, wobble (also wabble)

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Careen and Career

Verb

Some people might be confused by the warning to not confuse careen and career, because the most common sense of career ("a profession") is not much like any of the meanings of careen. But when employed as a verb, career does have some semantic overlap with careen; both words may be used to mean "to go at top speed especially in a headlong manner." A car, for instance, may either careen or career. Some usage guides hold, however, that the car is only careening if there is side-to-side motion, as careen has other meanings related to movement, among which is "to sway from side to side."

Examples of careen in a Sentence

Verb

 the sled careened as it barreled down the hill he careened unsteadily to the couch after hitting his head

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

 Together the trio pulled the man up onto the platform to safety – as the train careened to a stop minutes later. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE.com, "Billions Actress Melissa Errico Saves Man Who Fell on Subway Tracks: 'We Got This!'," 29 Aug. 2019 As the world careened toward a second world war, the SS Athenia, of the Donaldson Atlantic Line, an affiliate of Cunard-White Star, sailed from Liverpool two days after the German Army invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. — Frederick N. Rasmussen, baltimoresun.com, "Remembering the Pikesville girl who survived a German torpedoing," 23 Aug. 2019 Some universities are already careening down the latter path. — The Economist, "“Academic mobbing” undermines open inquiry and destroys the soul of universities," 23 July 2019 Another season that’s careening toward 110-plus losses means the Orioles are looking down the line at their top prospects as the core of the next winner executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias hopes to build in Baltimore. — Jon Meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles’ Rutschman, Rodriguez connect at Delmarva: ‘You’re looking at, potentially, the future of the organization’," 25 Aug. 2019 Texas State was careening toward a fourth-straight losing campaign, one that would see head coach Everett Withers fired before the finale. — Greg Luca, ExpressNews.com, "New coach Jake Spavital brings fresh mentality to Texas State," 18 Aug. 2019 The industry is staggered, careening toward a point of no return. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Conflict of interest in group linked to CHRB, Stronach Group, Breeders’ Cup baffles," 6 Aug. 2019 With the slightly numbing tingle of complimentary Chardonnay on her lips, the business traveller careens from the Esteemed Admirals’ Oasis to the Premier Pre-Boarding Pen, nearly missing her connection to the city where her flight crew is based. — Catherine Mevs, The New Yorker, "Business Travellers Know," 3 Aug. 2019 Photo: kevin lamarque/Reuters As Britain careens toward a deadline to quit the EU by Oct. 31, U.K. officials are stressing the importance of U.S. relations. — Max Colchester, WSJ, "Boris Johnson, Inching Closer to U.K. Leadership, Cozies Up to Trump," 21 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'careen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of careen

Verb

circa 1583, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1712, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for careen

Verb

from carine side of a ship, from Middle French, submerged part of a hull, from Latin carina hull, half of a nutshell; perhaps akin to Greek karyon nut

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More Definitions for careen

careen

verb
How to pronounce careen (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of careen

US : to go forward quickly without control

See the full definition for careen in the English Language Learners Dictionary

careen

verb
ca·​reen | \ kə-ˈrēn How to pronounce careen (audio) \
careened; careening

Kids Definition of careen

: to go at high speed without control

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More from Merriam-Webster on careen

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with careen

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for careen

Spanish Central: Translation of careen

Nglish: Translation of careen for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about careen

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