divert

1 to cause (someone) to pass the time agreeably occupied a light comedy to divert the tired business executive Synonyms disport, amuse, entertain, regale, solaceRelated Words absorb, busy, distract, engage, engross, immerse, interest, involve, occupy; beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, delight, enchant, enthrall (or enthral), fascinate; grip, hypnotize, intrigue, mesmerize; coddle, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, please, pleasure, spoil; appease, comfort, conciliate, console, content, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate, sootheNear Antonyms bore, jade; drain, enervate, exhaust, fatigue, tire, wear, wear out, weary; aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, disturb, exasperate, fret, gall, grate, harass, harry, irk, nettle, peeve, perturb, pester, pique, upset, vex

2 to change the course or direction of (something) the bike race was diverted around the construction zone Synonyms deflect, turn, redirect, swing, veer, wheel, whipRelated Words avert, deviate, move, rechannel, shift, shunt, sidetrack, swerve, switch, transfer; swivel, twist, whirl, zigzag; bend, curve, sway; reverse, turn back

3 to draw the attention or mind to something else trying to divert the child with a toy while the doctor was giving her a shot Synonyms abstract, call off, detract, distract, throw offRelated Words amuse, beguile, entertain; stray, wanderNear Antonyms concentrate, focus