Synonyms

divert

American

[dih-vurt, dahy-] / dɪˈvɜrt, daɪ- /

verb (used with object)

to turn aside or from a path or course; deflect.
British. to route (traffic) on a detour.
to draw off to a different course, purpose, etc.
to distract from serious occupation; entertain or amuse.

Synonyms:

delight

Antonyms:

bore

verb (used without object)

to turn aside; veer.

It is sad to see so much talent divert to trivial occupations.

divert British

/ daɪˈvɜːt /

verb

to turn (a person or thing) aside from a course; deflect
(tr) to entertain; amuse
(tr) to distract the attention of

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See amuse.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of divert

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin dīvertere, from dī- di- ² + vertere “to turn”

Explanation

To divert means to shift or turn from one thing to another. A magician might attempt to divert your attention as he shoves the rabbit into the hat. The police will divert traffic if there has been an accident that blocks the road, and it's a good idea to divert some of your income into a savings account so you don't spend it all. Are you throwing a surprise party for a friend at his house? Have a neighbor divert him for a little while if he comes home early so that you can finish getting ready. While these uses concern physically guiding something to a different location, divert can also be used to mean "distract" or "entertain." If your friend can't stop worrying about her grades, you might want to divert her with the latest school gossip.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing divert

The Outsiders

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Unit 1: Telling Details

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The Pearl

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

In March, the U.S. government charged Super Micro co-founder Yih-Shyan “Wally” Liaw and two other individuals for an alleged plan to divert U.S.-assembled servers to China in a violation of export-control laws.

From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026

Their statement described such false reports as "dangerous" and that they divert "workers from responding to legitimate emergencies and protecting vulnerable children and families".

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2026

“We would in the past divert to cheesemaking,” he told me.

From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026

It’s better to capture the revenue than divert it to ticket resellers, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

“You are not such a one, Hamlet, for think with what haste you wedded me yesterday. I hesitated, and you spurred me to action,” I said, hoping to divert him to thoughts of love.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023