divert

verb

di·​vert də-ˈvərt 

dī-

diverted; diverting; diverts

intransitive verb

: to turn aside : deviate

studied law but diverted to diplomacy

transitive verb

1

a

: to turn from one course or use to another : deflect

divert traffic to a side street

diverting funds to other projects

b

: distract

trying to divert her attention

2

: to give pleasure to especially by distracting the attention from what burdens or distresses

children diverting themselves with their toys

Synonyms

• amuse
• disport
• entertain
• regale
• solace

Choose the Right Synonym for divert

amuse, divert, entertain mean to pass or cause to pass the time pleasantly.

amuse suggests that one's attention is engaged lightly.

amuse yourselves while I make dinner

divert implies distracting attention from worry or routine occupation especially by something funny.

a light comedy to divert the tired businessman

entertain suggests supplying amusement by specially contrived methods.

a magician entertaining children at a party

Examples of divert in a Sentence

Police diverted traffic to a side street.

The stream was diverted toward the farmland.

They were charged with illegally diverting public funds for private use.

He lied to divert attention from the real situation.

They're only proposing the law to divert attention from important issues.

Recent Examples on the Web

The United States had been concerned about Israel’s military relationship with China and pressured Israel to divert its military trade toward other countries, Blarel said. —Karishma Mehrotra, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023

The plane was headed back from the Bay Area Wednesday night but diverted from French Valley. —Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2023

Billie Eilish has long spoken about being sexualized as a young woman, even wearing baggy clothes for much of her career to divert focus from her body. —Vulture, 13 Nov. 2023

In addition to the insurrection threat, Ethiopia is beset by political violence, hunger and poverty, and worsening religious tensions, problems that Abiy may want to divert attention from. —Mahad Darar, The Conversation, 13 Nov. 2023

The complex relies in part on electricity diverted from Al Shifa, the statement said, and there are multiple entrances to it in and around the hospital. —Vivian Yee, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2023

The Israelis are not allowing fuel to enter the Gaza Strip and have accused Hamas of stockpiling fuel intended for hospitals and humanitarian use and diverting it for terror purposes. —Zoe Magee, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2023

Over the past 20 years, public officials in the Southwest responded to aridification by shifting their emphasis from corralling and diverting water to making better use of what’s already available, allowing the region’s cities to explode in size merely by reducing their per capita water use. —Kyle Paoletta, The New Republic, 30 Oct. 2023

The crew was able to restore the flow of fuel and the flight was diverted to Portland, Oregon. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 3 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English diverten "to turn in a certain direction, turn away, direct one's mind," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French divertir, borrowed (with conjugation change) from Medieval Latin dīvertere "to turn aside, deflect, alienate (property), depart," continuing both Latin dīvertere "to separate oneself (from), be different, diverge" (from dī-, variant before voiced sounds of dis- dis- + vertere "to cause to revolve, turn, spin") and dēvertere "to turn away, divert, make a turn aside/detour," from dē- de- + vertere — more at worth entry 4

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing divert

• divert/distract attention

• divert/distract attention

Kids Definition

divert

verb

di·​vert də-ˈvərt 

dī-

1

a

: to turn aside : turn from one course or use to another

b

: to turn the attention away : distract

2

: to give pleasure to by causing the time to pass pleasantly

Etymology

Middle English diverten "to turn aside from a course," from early French divertir "to divert" and Latin divertere "to turn in opposite directions," from dis- "away, apart" and vertere "to turn" — related to converse, reverse, versatile

Legal Definition

divert

transitive verb

di·​vert də-ˈvərt, dī- 

1

: to turn from one course or use to another

funds illegally diverted

2

: to place (a defendant) under a diversion

diverter noun