detour
Americannoun
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a roundabout or circuitous way or course, especially one used temporarily when the main route is closed.
-
an indirect or roundabout procedure, path, etc.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
-
to cause to make a detour.
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to make a detour around.
We detoured Birmingham.
noun
verb
Etymology
Origin of detour
1730–40 < French détour, Old French destor, derivative of destorner to turn aside, equivalent to des- de- + torner to turn
Explanation
A detour is a longer, less direct way to get where you're going. A traffic accident sometimes means you have to take a detour to get home. When signs direct drivers to take a detour, it's usually because of road work or an emergency that's blocking traffic. You can also detour, or take an unexpected route, while you're running errands, stopping at your favorite bakery for a cookie before you continue on. The French détour comes from the verb destorner, "turn aside."
Vocabulary lists containing detour
Achievement First 5th Grade IA 1 Words
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Barbara Bush (1925 - 2018) Tribute List
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Shiloh
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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.
‘What initially looked like a catastrophic blockade begins to resemble a constrained detour rather than a full seizure of the artery.’
From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026
None of the players who took a detour to the pros have been as impactful to their teams as Bediako, though.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026
Even the romantic era of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan offered only a brief detour - one he has since abandoned in favour of action-heavy blockbusters such as Pathaan and Jawan.
From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026
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 • Dec. 28, 2025
They wound their way through the packed bookshelves, taking a detour by the crafts section so Emily could stoop down and check on the Inkheart book.
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
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.
