: a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure
especially
: a roundabout way temporarily replacing part of a route
detoured; detouring; detours
: to proceed by a detour
detour around road construction
1
: to send by a circuitous route
detour traffic around an accident
2
: to avoid by going around : bypass
detour an accident site
Examples of detour in a Sentence
Noun
After a number of unexpected detours, we finally arrived at our destination.
The little restaurant is worth a detour.
We had to make a detour around the heaviest traffic.
We took a detour from the main streets.
The road is closed ahead, so traffic will have to follow the detour.
Verb
We detoured around the heaviest traffic.
A police officer was detouring traffic around the scene of the accident.
Traffic will be detoured to 72nd Street.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 22 July 2025
Several paths are already completed, although there are still detours for the walkways still under construction.
—Lillian Ashworth, Oc Register, 18 July 2025
Olivia Rose, AZCentral.com, 26 July 2025
During construction, motorists will be detoured to the 11th Street Girl Scout Bridge – also known as Kentucky Route 1120 – to travel between Covington and Newport.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for detour
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Noun
For a pretty, delicious detour from Interstate 70, try Frisco’s Mountain Dweller Coffee Roasters.
—Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 22 July 2025
Several paths are already completed, although there are still detours for the walkways still under construction.
—Lillian Ashworth, Oc Register, 18 July 2025
Verb
Detour: Traffic will detour through the Loop 101 frontage toads.
—Olivia Rose, AZCentral.com, 26 July 2025
During construction, motorists will be detoured to the 11th Street Girl Scout Bridge – also known as Kentucky Route 1120 – to travel between Covington and Newport.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for detour
Cite this Entry
“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detour. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detour
1 of 2 noun
de·tour
ˈdē-ˌtu̇(ə)r 
also di-ˈtu̇(ə)r
: a departure from a direct course or the usual procedure
especially
: a roundabout way temporarily replacing a regular route
detour
2 of 2 verb
: to send or proceed by a detour
detour traffic around an accident
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