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

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
Choose the Right Synonym for divert

amuse, divert, entertain mean to pass or cause to pass the time pleasantly.

amuse suggests that one's attention is engaged lightly.

amuse yourselves while I make dinner

divert implies distracting attention from worry or routine occupation especially by something funny.

a light comedy to divert the tired businessman

entertain suggests supplying amusement by specially contrived methods.

a magician entertaining children at a party

Examples of divert in a Sentence

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 The entire health care system is being diverted to urgent, emergent health care needs. Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024 Netanyahu and military officials say that enough aid is arriving in Gaza but that it is just being diverted and stolen. William Booth, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 That compromise had capped Carmel's future income tax collection growth, diverting $16.7 million in new county income taxes between 2021 and 2023 to Fishers. The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2024 Last year’s debt ceiling and budget cuts deal between Republicans and the White House resulted in $1.4 billion rescinded from the agency and a separate agreement to take $20 billion from the IRS over the next two years and divert those funds to other programs. Fatima Hussein, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024 The bill could harm the public school system by diverting funds away from an already underfunded system, Democrats said. Rebecca Grapevine, The Courier-Journal, 15 Mar. 2024 Voice control, compatible with Siri and Google Assistant, enables drivers to give out commands without diverting attention from the road. Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2024 The most recent incident, concerning United Flight 821 from San Francisco International Airport to Mexico City International Airport, was diverted to Los Angeles due to an issue with the aircraft's hydraulic system. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024 United flight 35, with 249 passengers and crew onboard, was diverted to Los Angeles and landed shortly after 1:20 p.m., the airline told CNN. Taylor Romine, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'divert.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of divert was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near divert

Cite this Entry

“Divert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divert. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

divert

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

Middle English diverten "to turn aside from a course," from early French divertir "to divert" and Latin divertere "to turn in opposite directions," from dis- "away, apart" and vertere "to turn" — related to converse, reverse, versatile

Legal Definition

divert

transitive verb
di·​vert də-ˈvərt, dī- How to pronounce divert (audio)
1
: to turn from one course or use to another
funds illegally diverted
2
: to place (a defendant) under a diversion
diverter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on divert

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