diverge

American  

[dih-vurj, dahy-] / dɪˈvɜrdʒ, daɪ- /

verb (used without object)

diverged, diverging

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.

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verb (used with object)

diverged, diverging

1. to deflect or turn aside.

diverge British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See deviate.

Other Word Forms

• nondiverging adjective
• undiverging adjective

Etymology

Origin of diverge

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

Example Sentences

The chart below shows how their performance has diverged over the past couple of weeks.

From MarketWatch

The diverging experience of consumers at the top and the bottom of the wealth spectrum is being referred to as a K-shaped economy.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the market has changed dramatically in recent years: Investors and companies are adjusting to diverging national approaches to fiduciary duty.

From The Wall Street Journal

While the Fed hasn’t followed this or other formulas mechanically, its policy decisions in recent months have diverged notably from what the Taylor Rule would prescribe.

From Barron's

Asylum outcomes can diverge sharply even within a single household, Iranian asylum seekers and legal experts say.

From BBC

Related Words

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