deflect
Americanverb (used with or without object)
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deflects,
present (3rd person singular)
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deflected,
past participle, past
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deflecting
present participle
verb
Usage
What does deflect mean? To deflect something is to redirect it—to cause it to move in a direction that’s different from the course it had been on, as in The goalie was able to deflect the ball away from the goal. Deflect can also be used in a passive way meaning for something to have its course changed, as in The ball deflected after hitting the goalie’s outstretched hand. Deflect can also be used in a figurative way meaning to do something to avoid questioning or scrutiny, as in When asked about the scandal, the senator deflected by giving a vague answer and changing the subject. The act or process of deflecting is deflection, which can be used for both the literal and figurative senses of deflect (and more technical uses). Example: The meteor is headed straight for Earth—our only chance is to deflect it using the space laser!
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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deflectsimple
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deflectssimple
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have deflectedperfect
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has deflectedperfect
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am deflectingprogressive
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are deflectingprogressive
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is deflectingprogressive
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have been deflectingperfect progressive
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has been deflectingperfect progressive
Past
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deflectedsimple
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had deflectedperfect
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was deflectingprogressive
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were deflectingprogressive
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had been deflectingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of deflect
1545–55; < Latin dēflectere to bend down, turn aside, equivalent to dē- de- + flectere to bend, turn
Explanation
The verb deflect describes blocking something or changing its course. Hockey goalies deflect the flying puck with their sticks or blockers, making it travel in a different direction, preferably to a teammate's stick. In a cartoon, a mouse might ask an approaching cat, "Hey, what's that up in the sky?" When the cat looks up, the mouse runs away, successful in his attempt to deflect the cat's attention. When you deflect, you throw someone or something off course, often by using a distraction. Another way to deflect something — such as criticism — is to blame someone else. Eventually the truth, like the cat who quickly sees there's nothing unusual up in the sky, catches up with those who deflect.
Vocabulary lists containing deflect
30 GRE Words Beginning with "D"
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Unit 1: Telling Details
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The Sea of Monsters
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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.
See Examples For:
Great entrepreneurs get an inbound flow of information every minute of the day and deflect the noise.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
Of course, so much of what’s otherwise known points a finger directly back at Taylor Farms, false-positive atom splitting notwithstanding, and there’s only so much the company can do to deflect.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
Many Mexican players were shorter than their English counterparts and England was content to let Mexico keep sending crosses into the box England could easily deflect during the final 30 minutes of play.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
Andreeva, 19, has consistently attempted to deflect any discussion about the war and did the same again before playing Kostyuk.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
So now she composed her mind and brought all her concentration to bear on the matter of altering the way she held herself so as to deflect attention completely.
From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman
The pastor instead deflects responsibility by playing the victim card.
From Salon ● Apr. 10, 2026
At best, blaming technology that helps property managers deflects from the real issue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026
Michaels deflects the question, shifting the spotlight from him to the show: “I’m going to do it as long as I feel I can do it,” he said.
From New York Times ● Jun. 15, 2024
Scientists can infer the value of the QGP's electrical conductivity from how much the electromagnetic field deflects charged particles such as electrons, quarks, and protons.
From Science Daily ● May 17, 2024
I go for Zelda because she teleports and deflects projectiles and shoots fireballs from great distances, which are all optimal moves for any player looking to avoid hand-to-hand combat.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Charged particles of solar wind constantly catapult toward Earth, but most get deflected by the magnetosphere, which acts like a real-life Star Trek shield.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
The U.S. matched that in the 31st minute when Tillman deflected a free kick in off the head of Vanaken following a foul on Balogun.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
President Claudia Sheinbaum said authorities were investigating what went wrong during the deadly stampede at the Angel — but deflected blame from officials.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026
Progressing after one deflected goal and two defeats would be the strangest kind of achievement in the history of the national team.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
It hit the finger section of my glove, deflected off, smashed into the upper rim of the left lens of my glasses, glanced off my forehead, and knocked me down.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
Arnold started 22 games in 24 appearances for the Lions over the past two seasons, making 91 tackles, deflecting eight passes and making an interception.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
I had only one sartorial concern at the time: deflecting male attention whenever possible.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
Would the ball deflecting off White's shin have caused VAR to stay out of this in the Premier League?
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026
The U.S. finally found one midway through the second period with Larkin, a Detroit Red Wings’ forward, deflecting in a one-timer from Jack Hughes at the blue line.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2026
She imagined it as a force field, deflecting all Rosa’s stupid comments.
From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older
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.
