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

Westbound drivers on Pocket Road will be directed to a detour using Greenhaven Drive, Rush River Drive, Lake Front Drive and West Shore Drive, adding about a half-mile to the route. — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Officials urged drivers to download the Waze app for the most up-to-date, live detour navigation. — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

Fitzharris detours into the pseudoscience of the day, which included optography, the attempt to photograph the last image scalded onto a dead person’s retinas. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Bicyclists and pedestrians will be detoured using Garrison Street. — Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 17 Sep. 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