Veering

Veering is the act or condition of changing direction or course. It is used as both a verb and a noun to describe movement away from a straight line or intended path. Veering can be intentional, as when a driver guides a vehicle to avoid an obstacle, or unintentional, as when weather or road conditions cause a sudden shift in direction. The term is common across several contexts, including meteorology, navigation, and everyday speech.

In meteorology, veering refers to a wind shift in a clockwise direction on the compass. A wind that veers changes its direction gradually or suddenly from one bearing to another, which can influence weather patterns, storm development, and marine or aviation operations. In forecasts, noting whether winds are veering or backing helps describe the evolution of pressure systems and fronts.

In navigation and transportation, veering describes changes in a moving object's path. A vehicle may veer into another lane or off the road due to steering input, reaction to hazards, or loss of control. In maritime contexts, veering can also describe a change in the policy or pace of a vessel’s movement under wind or current, and it is sometimes used to refer to letting out more anchor chain when a vessel drifts away from its anchor.

Etymologically, veering derives from the verb veer, which has long been used to denote turning or drifting off a straight course. The term is used across disciplines to convey the concept of direction change, whether as a natural consequence of external forces or as an intentional adjustment by an operator.