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Definition of derail
transitive verb
1 : to cause to run off the rails
2a : to obstruct the progress of : frustrate security problems derailed the tourb : to upset the stability or composure of divorce … can seriously derail an employee — Joanne Gordon
intransitive verb
: to leave the rails
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Examples of derail in a Sentence
The train derailed in heavy snow.
The train was derailed by heavy snow.
Recent Examples of derail from the Web
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Phone Hacking In the U.K., there’s also a lingering civil case that dates back to Murdoch’s previous attempt to acquire Sky, which was derailed in 2011 amid a phone-hacking scandal.
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Four cars of the train, which were carrying about 200 passengers, derailed on Sunday around 2:30 p.m. PT near Chambers Bay.
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Two Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers supervising repairs to an area of track in Harlem where a subway train derailed on Tuesday have been suspended without pay.
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Then an anonymous complaint derailed their chances.
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The South Shore Line train, which originated in Dune Park, derailed Tuesday near the final stop at Millennium station in the Loop business district.
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He was honored with a glass trophy for helping to derail a bipartisan bill aimed at overhauling U.S. immigration law.
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Even after serious leg injuries derailed each of his first two seasons, White's drive hasn't diminished.
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Rather than be frustrated over what happened, Patrick has taken a philosophical approach to the setback that partially derailed his third season with Brandon of the Western Hockey League.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'derail'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of derail
French dérailler to throw off the track, from dé- de- + rail, from English
DERAIL Defined for English Language Learners
derail
playDefinition of derail for English Language Learners
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of a train : to leave its tracks
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: to cause (a train) to leave its tracks
DERAIL Defined for Kids
derail
playDefinition of derail for Students
derailed
;derailing
1 : to leave or cause to leave the rails The train derailed.
2 : to make progress or success difficult for Injuries derailed his plan for a championship.
Learn More about derail
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See words that rhyme with derail Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for derail Spanish Central: Translation of derail Nglish: Translation of derail for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of derail for Arabic speakers
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