divert
Americanverb
-
to turn (a person or thing) aside from a course; deflect
-
(tr) to entertain; amuse
-
(tr) to distract the attention of
Related Words
See amuse.
Other Word Forms
- divertedly adverb
- diverter noun
- divertible adjective
- diverting adjective
- divertingly adverb
- divertive adjective
- predivert verb (used with object)
- redivert verb (used with object)
- undiverted adjective
- undivertible adjective
Etymology
Origin of divert
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin dīvertere, from dī- di- 2 + vertere “to turn”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The shipping industry broadly had been expecting to restart Suez Canal transits this year after diverting ships away because of the threat of attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants.
"So, I set to work diverting him; here was a man who could draw such pictures; he should be earning a living doing that."
From BBC
Capital that was once earmarked for large-cap tech stocks is already being diverted into a market that is far stronger than it has been given credit for.
From MarketWatch
City of Edinburgh Council confirmed all schools and council buildings in the Calders area are on lockdown, while Lothian Buses said its number 20 service was being diverted until further notice.
From BBC
Flights have been diverted or cancelled, with journeys to and from Tel Aviv, Dubai, Doha and other international hubs affected.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
