diverge

[ dih-vurj, dahy- ]

verb (used without object)

, di·verged, di·verg·ing.

1. to move, lie, or extend in different directions from a common point; branch off.

   Synonyms: fork, deviate, separate

2. to differ in opinion, character, form, etc.; deviate.
3. Mathematics. (of a sequence, series, etc.) to have no unique limit; to have infinity as a limit.
4. to turn aside or deviate, as from a path, practice, or plan.

verb (used with object)

, di·verged, di·verg·ing.

1. to deflect or turn aside.

diverge

/ daɪˈvɜːdʒ /

verb

1. to separate or cause to separate and go in different directions from a point
2. intr to be at variance; differ

   our opinions diverge

3. intr to deviate from a prescribed course
4. intr maths (of a series or sequence) to have no limit

Other Words From

• nondi·verging adjective
• undi·verging adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diverge¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from Medieval Latin dīvergere, from Latin dī- di- ² + vergere “to incline”

Word History and Origins

Origin of diverge¹

C17: from Medieval Latin dīvergere, from Latin di- ² + vergere to turn

Synonym Study

See deviate.

Example Sentences

Earnings reports in recent days have shown how retailers’ fortunes have diverged in the pandemic.

From Ozy

“All of the models start to diverge around the middle of the century, depending on what path we set ourselves on,” Barnard said.

From Voice of San Diego

The two approaches diverged substantially in philosophy and implementation.

From MIT Technology Review

The researchers estimate that the tuatara and their ancestors diverged from snakes and lizards about 250 million years ago, meaning the group predates even the oldest dinosaurs.

From Science News

Based on the evolutionary relationship among the 68 coronaviruses, the researchers estimate that the branch of the virus family tree that leads to SARS-CoV-2 diverged from related viruses between 1948 and 1982.

From Science News

And it is that climax where the book and the film diverge the most, and which will probably upset the most people.

From The Daily Beast

There are too many issues on which his viewpoint and mine diverge.

From The Daily Beast

At this point, their versions of the events diverge dramatically.

From The Daily Beast

What we call “culture” refers to a broad range of concepts and ideas that overlap and diverge at various points.

From The Daily Beast

And not surprisingly, those views diverge dramatically across racial lines.

From The Daily Beast

He pauses, having come to the place where their ways diverge.

From Project Gutenberg

From the focus of the earthquake, wave-paths diverge in all directions.

From Project Gutenberg

The passages in Homer upon which opinions diverge most are isolated ones, occurring in similes and fragmentary descriptions.

From Project Gutenberg

After a period of pure imitation you will begin, at first almost imperceptibly, to diverge into a direction of your own.

From Project Gutenberg

The course had been over high pressure-waves and in some places we had to diverge on account of crevasses and—fresh water!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deviate
• differ
• disagree
• dissent
• stray
• vary