: 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
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
There is less geothermal activity here than near Reykjavík, but a dip in the Laugavellir hot pot is well worth the 90-minute detour.
—Ali Wunderman, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025
City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
All traffic will be detoured to Pittsburgh Avenue across the Young Street Bascule Bridge.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detour
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Noun
Former academy director Wilcox took a detour to Southampton before reaching Old Trafford.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
There is less geothermal activity here than near Reykjavík, but a dip in the Laugavellir hot pot is well worth the 90-minute detour.
—Ali Wunderman, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
Over the period, portable message signs will detour motorists to southbound Interstate 805, state Route 163 and westbound Interstate 8, the state agency advised.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
All traffic will be detoured to Pittsburgh Avenue across the Young Street Bascule Bridge.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 4 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 16 Sep. 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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