detour 1 of 2

Definition of detournext
as in deviation
a turning away from a course or standard we'll regard this relapse as just a brief detour on your road to recovery from substance abuse

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detour

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to bypass
to avoid by going around we had to detour the construction zone in order to get to the stadium

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2
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction we had to detour for a few miles around the section of highway under construction

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detour
Noun
Keep an open mind, because unexpected detours are in store! Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026 Perrin’s footage shows the basket of the hot air balloon packed with 13 passengers, all seemingly in good spirits despite the unexpected detour. Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
The ships were told to divert from the middle of the strait in Iranian and Omani territorial waters and instead detour around Iran’s Larak Island. David McHugh, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026 Police said to expect delays in the area and that all traffic eastbound is being detoured onto exit 40. Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detour
Noun
  • In a deviation from standard protocol, that mission's Crew-11 predecessors had departed before the new astronauts' arrival due to an unprecedented medical evacuation.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Compared to humans, Douglas captures photos from the exact same coordinates every day, allowing AI software to track progress and spot any deviations.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • When restaurants and hotels bypass local wine, money leaves the community.
    Maryam Ahmed, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The stadium will instead likely rely on a constellation of local and state administrative tools, bypassing voter approval at the ballot box.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The superstars’ set list didn’t deviate too far from their previous shows on the trek, but there were some surprises during the encore.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2026
  • As of January, 27 states and the District of Columbia now deviate from federal guidelines for some or all childhood vaccines, according to KFF Health News.
    Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The 38-year-old was hired as the club’s new under-21s coach from Southampton’s academy last summer and then promoted to Rosenior’s backroom staff after impressing in a two-game spell at the helm following Enzo Maresca’s departure in January.
    Simon Johnson, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • If time permits, lock your home upon departure and disconnect utilities and appliances.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Sales agents can circumvent those fees, requesting them from the seller directly, or a third party document site.
    Amancai Biraben, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The leak caused consternation from department brass, Moers alleged, who were not happy that his commission had circumvented proper channels to receive emergency funding.
    Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Chicago had to remake its safety depth chart this offseason, and Coby Bryant and Thieneman have turned a potential weakness into a strength.
    Dane Brugler, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The scene at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington turned chaotic, Los Angeles Times reporters wrote, when a man dashed toward the dining area and was met with gunfire.
    Karim Doumar, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Players and coaches have become maddeningly mealy-mouthed, striving to avoid upsetting agents, sponsors, owners, fans, thin-skinned politicians, and whoever else might object.
    Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who sits on the Housing and Homelessness Committee, said Friday the recommendations are intended to better align the city’s homelessness response with local needs while avoiding service disruptions and improving long-term coordination.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The game swung on these knife-edge moments, but the actual performance levels were similar from both teams.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • But as the ball swung around the perimeter, opportunities arose for the likes of Dosunmu and McDaniels to crack the paint off the bounce.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detour. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

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