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
Yet beyond the headline cities and endlessly recycled itineraries lies a quieter, deeper continent; one that’s best encountered through patience and a willingness to detour from the obvious itinerary. Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026 Where is the detour when I-35 closes? Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
On the way to the wadi, visitors can detour to the ruins of the frankincense capital of Samharam or drive up Jebel Samhan for a view of the clouds and a Baobao forest. Anna Zacharias, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026 All lanes of Akard Street will be closed and detoured at I-30 through summer 2028. Zacharia Washington, Dallas Morning News, 19 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detour
Noun
  • Last month’s Salesman release deviated from the historic pair’s colorblocking ever so slightly with the midsole making greater use of red, but no such deviation is see on the sole of Awake’s (speckling excluded).
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Blogs, tweets, and podcasts bypass traditional gatekeepers, bringing a wider array of voices into literary spaces that once seemed impenetrable.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Likewise, the permacrisis in the economy, which endured despite Caracas’ introduction of a national crypto currency, the Petro, to bypass US sanctions, or the central bank’s removal of five zeros from the national currency, the Bolivar, to subdue hyperinflation.
    Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Last month’s Salesman release deviated from the historic pair’s colorblocking ever so slightly with the midsole making greater use of red, but no such deviation is see on the sole of Awake’s (speckling excluded).
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Had the case proceeded to trial, at least two independent physicians had agreed to testify that Heider’s care deviated from standard treatments, court records show.
    Amber Gaudet Updated February 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • These are the 2026 contestants whose departures were highlighted in the episode (plus the recognizable faces USA TODAY spotted).
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Parking is just a block away, which makes arrival and departure even more straightforward.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Online games often ask players to scan driver’s licenses to verify their ages, but Glick said young people find ways to circumvent those rules.
    Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
  • The redistricting stems from an August decision in which Judge Dianna Gibson struck down the Utah congressional map adopted after the 2020 census because the Legislature had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Another bunker on 17, turning a birdie hole into a par.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Ditch the gallery guide and let the city's alleys be your curator for some street art, from Central's technicolor to Tsuen Wan's factory facades turned art installations and the Asia Society Hong Kong Center's open-air exhibitions.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Division 2 After two one-goal victories to reach the finals, Coronado freshman Audrey Roberts and her teammates used a late surge to avoid another close call.
    Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
  • That’s because more of these people are often snowshoe hikers who normally avoid steep terrain.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Nineteen seconds later, Keller swung a puck over to Laila Edwards, who unleashed a shot that Knight tipped for the tying goal.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
  • And while their place in the NCAA tournament is presumably safe heading into that final stretch, where the Trojans are seeded could swing significantly with a few quality wins.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detour. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

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