divert

di·vert

verb \də-ˈvərt, dī-\

Definition of DIVERT

intransitive verb

: to turn aside : deviate <studied law but diverted to diplomacy>

transitive verb

1

a : to turn from one course or use to another : deflect <divert traffic to a side street>

b : distract <trying to divert her attention>

2

: to give pleasure to especially by distracting the attention from what burdens or distresses

Examples of DIVERT

1. Police diverted traffic to a side street.
2. The stream was diverted toward the farmland.
3. They were charged with illegally diverting public funds for private use.
4. He lied to divert attention from the real situation.
5. They're only proposing the law to divert attention from important issues.

Origin of DIVERT

Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French divertir, from Latin divertere to turn in opposite directions, from dis- + vertere to turn — more at worth

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to DIVERT

Synonyms

disport, amuse, entertain, regale, solace

Related Words

absorb, busy, distract, engage, engross, immerse, interest, involve, occupy; beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, delight, enchant, enthrall (or enthral), fascinate; grip, hypnotize, intrigue, mesmerize; coddle, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, please, pleasure, spoil; appease, comfort, conciliate, console, content, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate, soothe

Near Antonyms

bore, jade; drain, enervate, exhaust, fatigue, tire, wear, wear out, weary; aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, disturb, exasperate, fret, gall, grate, harass, harry, irk, nettle, peeve, perturb, pester, pique, upset, vex

See Synonym Discussion at amuse

Rhymes with DIVERT

advert, alert, assert, avert, bellwort, birthwort, Blackshirt, brownshirt, bush shirt, camp shirt, colewort, concert, convert, covert, desert, dessert, dissert, dress shirt, evert, exert, expert, exsert, figwort, fleawort, glasswort, hair shirt, Hastert, hornwort, inert, insert, invert, lousewort, lungwort, madwort, milkwort, mugwort, nightshirt, outskirt, overt, pay dirt, pervert, pilewort, ragwort, redshirt, revert, ribwort, saltwort, sandwort, Schubert, seagirt, sea squirt, soapwort, spearwort, spleenwort, stitchwort, stonewort, stuffed shirt, subvert, sweatshirt, toothwort, T-shirt, ungirt