detour

1 of 2

noun

de·​tour ˈdē-ˌtu̇r 

also di-ˈtu̇r

: a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure

especially : a roundabout way temporarily replacing part of a route

detour

2 of 2

verb

detoured; detouring; detours

intransitive verb

: to proceed by a detour

detour around road construction

transitive verb

1

: to send by a circuitous route

detour traffic around an accident

2

: to avoid by going around : bypass

detour an accident site

Synonyms of detour

Noun

• deviation
• departure

Verb

• bypass
• circumvent
• avoid

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

Noun

State Highway 121 Around 21 minutes, Two Cups (James Jordan) and Randy (Austin Hébert) are driving Joe’s kids to school and have to take a detour after things get a little suspicious on the roadway. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Aug. 2026

Caltrans said there are at least five lanes open in each direction during the day and that there are currently no detours or major traffic shifts blocking the main roadways. — Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Verb

But Mitchell’s film also increasingly detours from the Spielberg playbook. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Sanguinetti’s tender film detours through the motions of time and eventually brings fleshiness to her presence. — Manahil Tahira, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French détour, from Old French destor, from destorner to divert, from des- de- + torner to turn — more at turn

First Known Use

Noun

1738, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1836, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for detour

• abjure
• adjure
• allure
• assure
• brochure
• cocksure
• coiffure
• contour
• couture
• demure
• endure
• ensure

Kids 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