diverge

swerve, veer, deviate, depart, digress, diverge mean to turn aside from a straight course. swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

• • swerved to avoid hitting the dog

veer implies a major change in direction.

• • at that point the path veers to the right

deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

• • never deviated from her daily routine

depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

• • occasionally departs from his own guidelines

digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

• • a professor prone to digress

diverge may equal depart but usually suggests a branching of a main path into two or more leading in different directions.

• • after school their paths diverged