: a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure
especially
: a roundabout way temporarily replacing part of a route
detoured; detouring; detours
: to proceed by a detour
detour around road construction
1
: to send by a circuitous route
detour traffic around an accident
2
: to avoid by going around : bypass
detour an accident site
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
Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
No specific detours are set up but police will be available to direct traffic.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025
Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2025
Drivers who want to avoid crossing into Mexico can detour by exiting at the Via De San Ysidro Boulevard off-ramp on southbound I-5, turning right onto Via De San Ysidro Boulevard, then left onto Calle Primera and continue toward Camino De La Plaza through Willow Road.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detour
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Noun
Drivers should be aware of detours for sections of Loop 101 and Loop 303 over the weekend.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
No specific detours are set up but police will be available to direct traffic.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
Drivers should detour to East County Line Road, enter southbound I-25 and use that exit for Lincoln Avenue.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2025
Drivers who want to avoid crossing into Mexico can detour by exiting at the Via De San Ysidro Boulevard off-ramp on southbound I-5, turning right onto Via De San Ysidro Boulevard, then left onto Calle Primera and continue toward Camino De La Plaza through Willow Road.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detour
Cite this Entry
“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detour. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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