digress
verb (used without object)
to deviate or wander away from the main topic or purpose in speaking or writing; depart from the principal line of argument, plot, study, etc.
digresses
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present tense formof digress (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.
Its narrative offers few character sketches, jumps around in time and digresses into subjects that distract more than they enlighten.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
He digresses to tell me the story, however, and it’s literally longer than this entire article’s word count.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 2026
Where Sterne’s “Tristram” digresses to prevent plot from happening, “CoDex 1962” sows plot upon plot, in the tradition of epics and sagas.
From New York Times ● Oct. 16, 2018
It idles, it digresses, it repeats, it makes no progress.
From Slate ● May 3, 2018
Milton never digresses; he never violates harmony of sound or sense; his poems have all their regular movement from quiet beginning through a rising and breaking wave of passion and splendour to quiet close.
From English Literature: Modern Home University Library of Modern Knowledge by G. H. (George Herbert) Mair
