divert

verb

di·vert də-ˈvərt How to pronounce divert (audio)

dī-

diverted; diverting; diverts

intransitive verb

: to turn aside : deviate

studied law but diverted to diplomacy

transitive verb

: to turn from one course or use to another : deflect

divert traffic to a side street

diverting funds to other projects

: distract

trying to divert her attention

: to give pleasure to especially by distracting the attention from what burdens or distresses

children diverting themselves with their toys

Example Sentences

Police diverted traffic to a side street. The stream was diverted toward the farmland. They were charged with illegally diverting public funds for private use. He lied to divert attention from the real situation. They're only proposing the law to divert attention from important issues.

Recent Examples on the Web Whether people have determined the prices aren’t worth it or they’re being forced to divert their resources to essential purchases like rent and food, on the whole, customers appear to be spending at small businesses less often. —

Q.ai - Powering A Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023 Specifically, Wang tweaked FTX’s software code that allowed Alameda to divert FTX customer funds with quicker execution times and exemption from the platform’s distinctive auto-liquidation risk management process, among other shady practices. —

Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 22 Dec. 2022 And once more, people are asking if anything can be done to stop or divert the flow. —

Audrey Mcavoy, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Dec. 2022 Authorities in Hawaii have occasionally tried to divert flows, both with walls and explosives. —

Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2022 And once more, people are asking if anything can be done to stop or divert the flow. —

Audrey Mcavoy, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Dec. 2022 And once more, people are asking if anything can be done to stop or divert the flow. —

Audrey Mcavoy, ajc, 1 Dec. 2022 Lothian wants to divert money from the climate change fight to law enforcement, reduce regulations for new construction and crack down more forcefully on people camping on the street. —

Blake Nelsonstaff Reporter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2022 Some investors fear Musk will divert resources to Twitter, or spend too much time wrestling with the chaos at the social media company instead of focusing on Tesla, the world's most valuable automaker, according to analysts. —

Harold Maass, The Week, 10 Nov. 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English diverten "to turn in a certain direction, turn away, direct one's mind," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French divertir, borrowed (with conjugation change) from Medieval Latin dīvertere "to turn aside, deflect, alienate (property), depart," continuing both Latin dīvertere "to separate oneself (from), be different, diverge" (from dī-, variant before voiced sounds of dis- dis- + vertere "to cause to revolve, turn, spin") and dēvertere "to turn away, divert, make a turn aside/detour," from dē- de- + vertere — more at worth entry 4

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

divert

verb

as in to amuse

to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied a light comedy to divert the tired business executive

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

amuse
entertain
regale
distract
appease
occupy
solace
delight
engross
interest
please
busy
engage
disport
involve
captivate
immerse
hypnotize
placate
enchant
beguile
console
absorb
mesmerize
bewitch
indulge
comfort
spoil
pamper
intrigue
pacify
fascinate
gratify
enthrall
enthral
propitiate
mollify
charm
pleasure
humor
coddle
mollycoddle
content
soothe
conciliate
oblige
grip

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bore
drain
wear
exhaust
weary
harass
disturb
aggravate
annoy
perturb
bother
wear out
pester
upset
tire
fatigue
exasperate
enervate
vex
jade
irk
bug
pique
harry
fret
grate
gall
chafe
peeve
nettle

as in to turn

to change the course or direction of (something) the bike race was diverted around the construction zone

Synonyms & Similar Words

turn
deflect
redirect
swing
veer
whip
shift
move
avert
wheel
deviate
switch
sidetrack
rechannel
shunt
whirl
transfer
swivel
sway
swerve
twist
reverse
zigzag
curve
bend
turn back

as in to distract

to draw the attention or mind to something else trying to divert the child with a toy while the doctor was giving her a shot

Synonyms & Similar Words

distract
detract
amuse
throw off
abstract
stray
entertain
call off
wander
beguile

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

focus
concentrate

Synonym Chooser

The words amuse and entertain are common synonyms of divert. While all three words mean "to pass or cause to pass the time pleasantly," divert implies distracting attention from worry or routine occupation especially by something funny.

a light comedy to divert the tired businessman

The meanings of amuse and divert largely overlap; however, amuse suggests that one's attention is engaged lightly.

amuse yourselves while I make dinner

Although the words entertain and divert have much in common, entertain suggests supplying amusement by specially contrived methods.

a magician entertaining children at a party

单词	divert
释义	divert verb di·vert də-ˈvərt dī- diverted; diverting; diverts intransitive verb : to turn aside : deviate studied law but diverted to diplomacy transitive verb 1 a : to turn from one course or use to another : deflect divert traffic to a side street diverting funds to other projects b : distract trying to divert her attention 2 : to give pleasure to especially by distracting the attention from what burdens or distresses children diverting themselves with their toys Synonyms amuse disport entertain regale solace See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Police diverted traffic to a side street. The stream was diverted toward the farmland. They were charged with illegally diverting public funds for private use. He lied to divert attention from the real situation. They're only proposing the law to divert attention from important issues. Recent Examples on the Web Whether people have determined the prices aren’t worth it or they’re being forced to divert their resources to essential purchases like rent and food, on the whole, customers appear to be spending at small businesses less often. —Q.ai - Powering A Personal Wealth Movement, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023 Specifically, Wang tweaked FTX’s software code that allowed Alameda to divert FTX customer funds with quicker execution times and exemption from the platform’s distinctive auto-liquidation risk management process, among other shady practices. —Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 22 Dec. 2022 And once more, people are asking if anything can be done to stop or divert the flow. —Audrey Mcavoy, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Dec. 2022 Authorities in Hawaii have occasionally tried to divert flows, both with walls and explosives. —Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2022 And once more, people are asking if anything can be done to stop or divert the flow. —Audrey Mcavoy, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Dec. 2022 And once more, people are asking if anything can be done to stop or divert the flow. —Audrey Mcavoy, ajc, 1 Dec. 2022 Lothian wants to divert money from the climate change fight to law enforcement, reduce regulations for new construction and crack down more forcefully on people camping on the street. —Blake Nelsonstaff Reporter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2022 Some investors fear Musk will divert resources to Twitter, or spend too much time wrestling with the chaos at the social media company instead of focusing on Tesla, the world's most valuable automaker, according to analysts. —Harold Maass, The Week, 10 Nov. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English diverten "to turn in a certain direction, turn away, direct one's mind," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French divertir, borrowed (with conjugation change) from Medieval Latin dīvertere "to turn aside, deflect, alienate (property), depart," continuing both Latin dīvertere "to separate oneself (from), be different, diverge" (from dī-, variant before voiced sounds of dis- dis- + vertere "to cause to revolve, turn, spin") and dēvertere "to turn away, divert, make a turn aside/detour," from dē- de- + vertere — more at worth entry 4 First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense Phrases Containing divert divert/distract attention divert/distract attention Kids Definition divert verb di·vert də-ˈvərt dī- 1 a : to turn aside : turn from one course or use to another b : to turn the attention away : distract 2 : to give pleasure to by causing the time to pass pleasantly Legal Definition divert transitive verb di·vert də-ˈvərt, dī- 1 : to turn from one course or use to another funds illegally diverted 2 : to place (a defendant) under a diversion diverter noun divert verb 1 as in to amuse to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied a light comedy to divert the tired business executive Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance amuse entertain regale distract appease occupy solace delight engross interest please busy engage disport involve captivate immerse hypnotize placate enchant beguile console absorb mesmerize bewitch indulge comfort spoil pamper intrigue pacify fascinate gratify enthrall enthral propitiate mollify charm pleasure humor coddle mollycoddle content soothe conciliate oblige grip Antonyms & Near Antonyms bore drain wear exhaust weary harass disturb aggravate annoy perturb bother wear out pester upset tire fatigue exasperate enervate vex jade irk bug pique harry fret grate gall chafe peeve nettle See More 2 as in to turn to change the course or direction of (something) the bike race was diverted around the construction zone Synonyms & Similar Words turn deflect redirect swing veer whip shift move avert wheel deviate switch sidetrack rechannel shunt whirl transfer swivel sway swerve twist reverse zigzag curve bend turn back 3 as in to distract to draw the attention or mind to something else trying to divert the child with a toy while the doctor was giving her a shot Synonyms & Similar Words distract detract amuse throw off abstract stray entertain call off wander beguile Antonyms & Near Antonyms focus concentrate Synonym Chooser The words amuse and entertain are common synonyms of divert. While all three words mean "to pass or cause to pass the time pleasantly," divert implies distracting attention from worry or routine occupation especially by something funny. a light comedy to divert the tired businessman The meanings of amuse and divert largely overlap; however, amuse suggests that one's attention is engaged lightly. amuse yourselves while I make dinner Although the words entertain and divert have much in common, entertain suggests supplying amusement by specially contrived methods. a magician entertaining children at a party
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divert

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing divert

Kids Definition

Legal Definition

verb

Synonym Chooser