divert

/daɪˈvɜːt/verb

To change the direction of something, sending it along a different path.

Example sentences

“Police diverted traffic around the accident site.”
“She tried to divert the conversation away from her exam results.”

Traffic, funds, and attention get diverted. 'Diverting' as an adjective means amusing, a slightly old-fashioned compliment.

Featured as word of the day on January 13, 2026.

Synonyms for divert

redirect
reroute
deflect

Often confused with divert

divert vs avert: avert (verb): To turn something aside or away, or to keep something bad from happening.

Related words

divingThe activity of plunging into water, or of descending or dropping down suddenly.diversifyTo add variety to something, or to start including a wider range of things.divorceThe official ending of a marriage by law.diverseMade up of many different kinds of things or people.divulgeTo reveal information, especially something private or secret, so that others come to know it.divergeTo split apart and head in different directions, or to become increasingly different.