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
• entertain
• regale
• distract

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

Global titans of self-dealing—such as Najib Razik, Malaysia’s former Prime Minister—divert vast sums from national coffers directly into their bank accounts. —David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025

Whether that's disaster relief, basic healthcare or supporting the pipeline to future healthcare professionals, S.O.S. has changed and saved over 14 million lives by providing millions of pounds of medical supplies diverted from landfills to people and animals around the world. —Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 7 Aug. 2025

The city should report pension and retiree health care costs not just as line items in the budget, but as a percentage of general fund spending — so residents can see, year over year, how much is being diverted from services. —John J Roach Iii, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025

Severe turbulence forced Delta Flight 56 en route from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam to divert to Minneapolis last week. —Jim Foerster, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025

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

Rhymes for divert

• alert
• assert
• avert
• dessert
• evert
• exert
• inert
• insert
• invert
• nightshirt
• overt
• revert

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