derail
verb (used with object)
to cause (a train, streetcar, etc.) to run off the rails of a track.
derails
-
present tense formof derail (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
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.
“Most people think of retirement risk in terms of market crashes,” said Jeff Judge, a certified financial planner in Forest Hill, Md. “Healthcare is the one that actually derails the most plans I’ve seen.”
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 2026
Their closeness derails Rausch’s “three steps ahead” scheming.
From Salon ● Jan. 28, 2026
If the ongoing scientific debate "derails that effort to try and understand if they're bad for us, that's not helpful", he said.
From Barron's ● Jan. 27, 2026
In the new book, Roy Grace travels from East Sussex to London in the royal train, which derails, and Camilla helps passengers onboard.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2025
My sudden shaking derails my mom’s questioning and sends her into doctor mode.
From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon
