divert

verb

di·​vert də-ˈvərt 

dī-

diverted; diverting; diverts

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

diverted funds from the company

b

: distract

trying to divert her attention

2

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

children diverting themselves with their toys

Synonyms of divert

• amuse
• entertain
• regale
• distract

Choose the Right Synonym for divert

amuse, divert, entertain mean to pass or cause to pass the time pleasantly.

amuse suggests that one's attention is engaged lightly.

amuse yourselves while I make dinner

divert implies distracting attention from worry or routine occupation especially by something funny.

a light comedy to divert the tired businessman

entertain suggests supplying amusement by specially contrived methods.

a magician entertaining children at a party

Examples of divert in a Sentence

Police diverted traffic to a side street.

The stream was diverted toward the farmland.

They were charged with illegally diverting public funds for private use.

He lied to divert attention from the real situation.

They're only proposing the law to divert attention from important issues.

Recent Examples on the Web

After the Herald began reporting on the A3 Foundation, Levine Cava called for an audit of the charity, and Miami-Dade commissioners voted to divert a yearly A3 Foundation allocation in a county contract to Miami-Dade’s Parks Foundation instead. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025

The announcement followed reports from the Associated Press and CBS News that the Justice Department is investigating whether donations to the national BLM entity were diverted by its leadership after the 2020 racial-justice protests. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2025

The pilots diverted the flight to Buffalo to attempt an emergency landing. —Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025

The Sacramento International Airport announced Thursday morning that multiple flights were being diverted. —Hector Amezcua, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English diverten "to turn in a certain direction, turn away, direct one's mind," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French divertir, borrowed (with conjugation change) from Medieval Latin dīvertere "to turn aside, deflect, alienate (property), depart," continuing both Latin dīvertere "to separate oneself (from), be different, diverge" (from dī-, variant before voiced sounds of dis- dis- + vertere "to cause to revolve, turn, spin") and dēvertere "to turn away, divert, make a turn aside/detour," from dē- de- + vertere — more at worth entry 4

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing divert

• divert/distract attention

Rhymes for divert

• alert
• assert
• avert
• dessert
• evert
• exert
• inert
• insert
• invert
• nightshirt
• overt
• revert

Kids Definition

divert

verb

di·​vert də-ˈvərt 

dī-

1

a

: to turn aside : turn from one course or use to another

b

: to turn the attention away : distract

2

: to give pleasure to by causing the time to pass pleasantly

Etymology

Middle English diverten "to turn aside from a course," from early French divertir "to divert" and Latin divertere "to turn in opposite directions," from dis- "away, apart" and vertere "to turn" — related to converse, reverse, versatile

Legal Definition

divert

transitive verb

di·​vert də-ˈvərt, dī- 

1

: to turn from one course or use to another

funds illegally diverted

2

: to place (a defendant) under a diversion

diverter noun