detour

American  

[dee-toor, dih-toor] / ˈdi tʊər, dɪˈtʊər /

noun

1. a roundabout or circuitous way or course, especially one used temporarily when the main route is closed.

2. an indirect or roundabout procedure, path, etc.

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verb (used without object)

1. to make a detour; go by way of a detour.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to make a detour.

2. to make a detour around.

   We detoured Birmingham.

detour British  

/ ˈdiːtʊə /

noun

1. a deviation from a direct, usually shorter route or course of action

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verb

1. to deviate or cause to deviate from a direct route or course of action

Etymology

Origin of detour

1730–40 < French détour, Old French destor, derivative of destorner to turn aside, equivalent to des- de- + torner to turn

Example Sentences

When it’s appropriate, Gilberg is willing to share that his own life has had bumps and detours.

From Los Angeles Times

Fans believe that all this activity points to Styles gearing up to announce his fourth album, after a brief detour into marathon running last year.

From BBC

That detour gave me a chance to admire the stone ruins of a hotel that was built next to the springs in 1870s.

From Los Angeles Times

Knowing this allows me to plan trips that actually make sense: sometimes it’s worth a detour for a specialty ingredient, other times it’s smarter to stick to one store.

From Salon

As CNN reported, “crowds gather — people come out of their houses, dog walkers pause on their routes, cyclists and drivers make detours — to protest what the agents are doing and remove any element of surprise.”

From Salon

Related Words

• deviation
• diversion