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
From Barstow, take a detour up to Zion National Park—a 500-mile ask the group skipped to make time. Jacqueline Kehoe, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026 Previously, Rutgers Street ended in a chain link fence, requiring residents whose homes are located just a few hundred feet from Ravenswood Preserve to take a detour of nearly a mile to reach the Bay Trail. Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
Drivers will be detoured to stay on I-84, according to the CTDOT. Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026 To detour onto southbound CTP, drivers will take CR 920 and turn onto FM 1902/Old Granbury Road, follow the signs and enter the toll road. Hedija Spahalic, Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detour
Noun
  • But there are other deviations as well.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The system uses sensor feedback to adjust for small deviations over time.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The project, known as QUASAR-CREATE, seeks to address a specific vulnerability in modern digital infrastructure, which is the eventual ability of quantum computers to bypass current encryption methods.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Yes, there are ways to bypass this with a digital antenna.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But, for all the sensationalism that has attended the reporting of this story, nothing that Orbán said privately deviated from his public positions.
    Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Piker’s endorsement of Mills deviates from other progressives who have thrown their support behind Platner.
    Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That was being held up by Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, but his departure as prime minister after weekend elections could free up the sum.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • The rooftop and courtyard of the American Embassy, plus thirteen other buildings in Saigon and Tan Son Nhut, were designated as departure points.
    Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Legislature has circumvented the ban by making K-12 vouchers available to students instead of funding private schools directly.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Hughes accused Kennedy of making changes to the charter to circumvent the judge’s ruling and further Kennedy’s push to undermine confidence in vaccines.
    Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In this way, Paul turned the heresy of a tiny sect of Messianic Jews into the dominant religious and cultural architecture of the West for the next couple of thousand years.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Barbara Eden turned heads after sharing a new photo that left fans doing a double take.
    Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Yankees will look to avoid its first series sweep Sunday with Cam Schlittler on the mound against Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • The troop carrier planes became bogged down in the soil and had to be destroyed by the US to avoid them falling into enemy hands, while new planes were flown in.
    The Week UK, TheWeek, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The man, wearing a yellow shirt and black shorts, walks up to the woman and immediately swings the hammer at her head.
    Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Gold prices have swung between historic highs and lower levels since late 2025, as geopolitical tensions and trade concerns have prompted some investors toward the safe-haven asset.
    Liz Knueven, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detour. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

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