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
But when cooking them at home, detour from the package instructions. Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 May 2026 The Keys View detour takes you off Park Boulevard to an elevation of 5,185 feet for views of the Coachella Valley, Salton Sea, and San Jacinto Peak. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2026
Verb
Cars are detoured off westbound I-76 on Friday morning. Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026 Traffic will be detoured on Cedar Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard to University Avenue to Marion Street to westbound I-94. Kathryn Kovalenko, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detour
Noun
  • Medical research has historically treated the female body as a deviation from a male baseline, leaving critical gaps in understanding that have real-world consequences.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 11 May 2026
  • The only deviations from the hue can be found on the steel screws on the bezel, the titanium caseback and crown chip, and the white accents on the dial.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • But one of the world’s biggest industries has largely bypassed the software revolution, and still runs, to a remarkable extent, on human know-how.
    Theo Saville, Fortune, 6 May 2026
  • Duncan, who represents southwestern Kansas City, also questioned whether the team would try to argue that the stadium and surrounding district were actually part of Washington Square Park itself as a way to bypass paying property taxes.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • However, the uptick in flights observed off the Cuban coast is new and deviates from where these aircraft have historically been deployed.
    Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 10 May 2026
  • Charles Melton sweetly dedicated an award to his wife and newborn daughter, deviating from his famously private nature.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • Many guests are juggling packed itineraries—pyramid visits, museum stops, Nile cruise transfers—and the staff are well practiced at coordinating drivers, guides, and early departures.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
  • The family of former WSL head coach Matt Beard raised concerns that his employment and departure from Burnley Football Club contributed to the decline in mental health, and ultimately, his death.
    Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • The court ruled that lawmakers had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters when adopting the prior map.
    David A. Lieb, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
  • Because presidents have never previously used this authority to circumvent the Clean Air Act, industries were left guessing how to make the request, experts said.
    Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Minnesota's Target Center turned into a political stage Saturday night as the Minnesota Lynx home opener against the Atlanta Dream was hijacked by a fan shouting anti-ICE sentiments.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
  • If the 2026 first-rounder didn’t convey, then the Clippers would get Indiana’s unprotected 2031 pick, which is the same year franchise star Kawhi Leonard turns 40 years old.
    Law Murray, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • The Dodgers avoided their second shutout loss of the season and finally gave the crowd of 50,209 reason to cheer in the ninth when Andy Pages belted a two-run home run — his ninth of the season — off reliever Reynoldo Lopez.
    Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
  • The Lakers will try to avoid being the all-too-likely 162nd.
    Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • The Blue Jays swung at just 18% of Detmers’ pitches that were out of the zone.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
  • Extra servos in the shoulders let the arms swing widely, while the leg joints allow crouching and shifting positions.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detour. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

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