detour

noun de·tour \ ˈdē-ˌtu̇r also di-ˈtu̇r \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of detour

: a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure; especially : a roundabout way temporarily replacing part of a route

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See detour defined for kids

Examples of detour in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of detour from the Web

Flavors zig and zag, taking unexpected detours — horse blanket? — but arrive at a joyful, rewarding destination.

— peter rowe, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Is your favorite San Diego IPA part of our contest's Final Four?," 29 Mar. 2018
Yet the decision was no short-lived, ideologically driven detour.

— kim phillips-fein, The New Republic, "The 200-year legal struggle that led to Citizens United and gave corporations the rights of people," 29 Mar. 2018
Bicyclists and pedestrians should be prepared for local detours.

— rosemarie stein, OregonLive.com, "Portland Metro Thursday Traffic: PBOT begins the spring paving season," 29 Mar. 2018
Such attitudes, and the ironic tone of much far-right discourse, make for strange detours.

— The Economist, "How “identitarian” politics is changing Europe," 28 Mar. 2018
All lanes of the Glenn Highway should reopen in time for the Monday morning commute, bringing to an end to five days of traffic snarls and detours on the busiest highway in the state, the Alaska Department of Transportation said.

— michelle theriault boots, Anchorage Daily News, "DOT: All lanes of Glenn Highway on track to reopen for Monday morning commute," 26 Mar. 2018
The Department of Homeland Security, working with D.C. police and the mayor’s office, set up a system to notify attendees of any security issues, warnings or detours.

— marissa j. lang, Washington Post, "March for Our Lives: D.C. has been preparing for weeks. Now, it begins.," 24 Mar. 2018
Then Alsup and Wuebbles took a detour into naming other renewable power sources besides solar and wind.

— adam rogers, WIRED, "In the Courtroom, Climate Science Needs Substance—and Style," 21 Mar. 2018
The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office has noticed some extended commute times but deputies say detour signs are well-posted, spokeswoman Fran McLaughlin said.

— jesse garza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "High Rise Bridge closures bring frustration, gridlock and clever workarounds," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'detour.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of detour

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1738

See Words from the same year

detour Synonyms

detour

verb

Definition of detour

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

See detour defined for English-language learners

Examples of detour in a Sentence

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 of detour from the Web

There will be twists, turns and detours that no one forecasted.

— brad biggs, chicagotribune.com, "Matt Nagy eager to leave his imprint on Bears: 'They're going to understand why it's so important for them to put on the Bears uniform'," 27 Mar. 2018
Some traffic was detoured through the Cigna complex, Hajdasz said.

— christine dempsey, courant.com, "Motorcyclist Dies After Bloomfield Crash, Police Say," 23 Mar. 2018
Although commuters will not have to detour through the community, that route will still be open.

— laurel andrews, Anchorage Daily News, "New detour for Friday’s Glenn Highway commuters after day of frustration and unexpected bright spots," 23 Mar. 2018
Buses, meanwhile, ran on a normal schedule, although some were detoured because of snowfall.

— adam vaccaro, BostonGlobe.com, "The T’s storm performance, by the numbers," 16 Mar. 2018
During the closing, northbound Yankee Road motorists will detour north on Cincinnati-Dayton Road, west on Princeton and back to Yankee.

— sue kiesewetter, Cincinnati.com, "Orange barrels going up for Yankee Road project," 16 Mar. 2018
TriMet's 17-Broadway/Holgate bus route will detour to the Steel Bridge while the Broadway is closed.

— rosemarie stein, OregonLive.com, "Portland Metro Wednesday Traffic: Broadway Bridge closed overnight for lift span work," 14 Mar. 2018
In other words, Miller is a financial industry lifer who detoured briefly into government to keep stiffer rules on the industry at bay.

— david dayen, The New Republic, "Will Another White Big-Banker Oversee Wall Street?," 13 Mar. 2018
The Mall route will delay opening until 10 a.m. The Woodley Park-Adams Morgan-McPherson Square route will detour around its stops near Harvard Street NW.

— luz lazo, Washington Post, "Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon to impact traffic, parking Saturday," 8 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of detour

1836

detour Synonyms

Synonyms

bypass, circumnavigate, circumvent, skirt;

Near Antonyms

confront, face, meet;

accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome;

Related Words

leapfrog;

avoid, dodge, duck, elude, escape, eschew, evade, flee, shake, shun;

DETOUR Defined for English Language Learners

detour

verb

Definition of detour for English Language Learners

: to go along a way that is different from and usually longer than the usual or planned way
: to make (someone or something) go in a direction that is not planned or expected
: to avoid (something) by going around it