diverge

verb di·verge \ də-ˈvərj , dī- \

Updated on: 19 May 2018

Definition of diverge

diverged; diverging

intransitive verb

1 a : to move or extend in different directions from a common point : draw apart

diverging roads

b : to become or be different in character or form

The friends' lives diverged after graduation.

: differ in opinion

This is where our views diverge.

2 : to turn aside from a path or course : deviate

diverge from a direct path

3 mathematics : to be divergent (see divergent 2)

transitive verb

: deflect

diverge a compass needle

See diverge defined for English-language learners

See diverge defined for kids

Examples of diverge in a Sentence

A prism causes rays of light to diverge.
They were close friends in college, but after graduation, their lives diverged.

Recent Examples of diverge from the Web

But lately, their interests have diverged more often.

— ellen gamerman, WSJ, "Filmmakers Mark and Jay Duplass’s New Book Explores Brotherly Love, With Occasional Sibling Rivalry," 7 May 2018
Posted mortgage rates have diverged in the past week following rate hikes by Toronto-Dominion, Royal Bank of Canada, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and National Bank of Canada.

— doug alexander, Bloomberg.com, "Toronto-Dominion's Rivals Employ ‘Gamesmanship’ With Rate Hikes," 1 May 2018
Although Zuckerberg and Sandberg always strive to present a united front, increasingly there appears to be a genuine possibility that their interests could diverge.

— david kirkpatrick, Time, "The Facebook Defect," 12 Apr. 2018
Viacom had originally acquired CBS in 2000 before spinning it off in 2006, but the fates of the two networks have since diverged.

— The Economist, "Business this week," 5 Apr. 2018
But the status has created awkward situations where Sanders and Our Revolution have diverged.

— alex seitz-wald, NBC News, "Pro-Bernie Sanders group cancels Hillary Clinton protest," 19 Mar. 2018
Women and men have long diverged in their views of Donald Trump.

— craig gilbert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "As Trump's ratings with Wisconsin men rise, gender gap becomes massive," 13 Mar. 2018
Both programs have diverged in fortunes since, IU largely for the better in an area Miller considers crucial.

— zach osterman, Indianapolis Star, "IU's defensive improvement is no fluke, but Archie Miller wants more," 16 Feb. 2018
The Mary River turtle, which diverged from all other living species 40 million years ago, ranks 30th out of the 50 animals included on the new reptile list.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Turtle That Breathes Through Its Genitals Lands on Endangered Reptiles List," 13 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of diverge

Medieval Latin divergere, from Latin dis- + vergere to incline — more at wrench

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1665

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

diverge Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

DIVERGE Defined for English Language Learners

diverge

verb

Definition of diverge for English Language Learners

: to split and move out in different directions from a single point
: to be or become different

Learn More about diverge

See words that rhyme with diverge Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for diverge Spanish Central: Translation of diverge Nglish: Translation of diverge for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of diverge for Arabic speakers

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diverge

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