diverge

verb

di·verge | \də-ˈvərj,

dī-\

diverged; diverging

Definition of diverge

1a : 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 sense 2)

transitive verb

: deflect diverge a compass needle

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about diverge

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for diverge

Synonyms

branch (out), divide, fork, part, separate, spread

Antonyms

converge, join

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Initial engineering was done jointly as a common starting ground, but from there the two engineering teams seem to have diverged. — Matthew Jancer, Popular Mechanics, "What To Know About the 2019 Toyota Supra," 11 Oct. 2018 The siblings’ financial paths soon began to diverge. — Fortune, "8 Things to Know About Mukesh Ambani, Asia's Newest Richest Man," 13 July 2018 This is where the stories between IndyCar and SPM begin to diverge. — Jim Ayello, Indianapolis Star, "IndyCar: Late race confusion has Robert Wickens, SPM team manager irate," 8 July 2018 The accounts start to diverge as the film shows Houston falling into a dark abyss of drug abuse with Brown, and Macdonald simply lets the subjects state their truth. — Katie Walsh, Detroit Free Press, "Review: Whitney Houston doc is raw and revealing," 5 July 2018 As Leave No Trace progresses, its two characters stay together though their outlooks begin to diverge. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "Leave No Trace Is a Shattering, Essential Drama," 28 June 2018 Hours of operation are slated to be from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The waivers were required to allow the development to diverge from South 27th Street Design Overlay District standards. — Erik S. Hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Franklin set to get new child care option along 27th Street," 15 May 2018 In an accepting culture, people are empowered to diverge from the norm. — Michael Bauer, San Francisco Chronicle, "Why Bay Area chefs are on the cutting edge of innovation nationally," 26 Apr. 2018 Finally, whites and non-whites have converged somewhat on social attitudes but have diverged in consumer behavior. — Jeet Heer, The New Republic, "White Americans love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer—and flashlights.," 10 July 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.