Dictionary

divert en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /daɪˈvɜːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɪˈvɝt/ (General-American)
• /daɪˈvɝt/ (General-American)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English diverten, Old French divertir (“to turn or go different ways, part, separate, divert”), from Latin di- (“apart”) + vertere (“to turn”); see verse.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To turn aside from a course.
   • The workers diverted the stream away from the road.
   • Until the main road from Hatfield to Hertford was diverted a few years ago, heavy lorries trundling through the village sometimes knocked chunks off corner buildings, but now the village has regained much of its former tranquillity. 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 224, about Hertingfordbury:
   • Many of the remaining trains have been retimed and where possible freight trains have also been diverted to alternative routes. 1960 February, R. C. Riley, “The London-Birmingham services - Past, Present and Future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 99:
2. (transitive) To distract.
   • that crude apple that diverted Eve [1644], [John Milton], Of Education. To Master Samuel Hartlib, [London]: […] [Thomas Underhill and/or Thomas Johnson], →OCLC:
   • Don't let him divert your attention; keep your eye on the ball.
3. (transitive) To entertain or amuse (by diverting the attention)
   • We are amused by a tale, diverted by a comedy. 1871, Charles John Smith, Synonyms Discriminated:
   • But somehow, despite wooden, unfunny dialogue, rigid characterization, and the dreadful mindless meaninglessness of it all, Good News manages to divert us for its three hours. 1973 December 29, Jonathan Cross, “The Fag In The Fifth Row”, in Gay Community News, volume 1, number 28, page 4:
4. (intransitive, obsolete) To turn aside; to digress.
   • I diverted to see one of the prince's palaces. 1641 September 6 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 28 August 1641]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

redivert · divertable · divertee · divertive · undivert

Relateds

diversity · diverse · diversion

Synonyms

deflect · offlead (to lead away from a course)

Translations (64)

el αποσπώ (distract) · fr dévier (turn aside) · az kənara çəkmək (turn aside) · fr divertir (entertain) · es desviar (turn aside) · es divertir (entertain) · es echar por el desvío (turn aside) · es desorientar (distract) · el εκτρέπω (turn aside) · sv avleda (distract) · it distrarre (distract) · ru отвлека́ть (distract) · ru развле́чь (entertain) · bg развличам (entertain) · cmn 轉向 /转向 (turn aside) · fi suunnata (turn aside) · ru забавля́ть (entertain) · io distraktar (entertain) · la diverto (turn aside) · hi मोड़ना (turn aside) · mi whakahipa (turn aside) · es despistar (distract) · bg отклонявам (turn aside) · es echar por el desvío (distract) · io amuzar (entertain) · fi viihdyttää (entertain) · az qırağa çəkmək (turn aside) · ru позаба́вить (entertain) · az tərəfə çəkmək (turn aside) · it deviare (turn aside) · bg забавлявам (entertain) · fi ohjata (turn aside) · io distraktar (distract) · ru отвести́ (turn aside) · es distraer (distract) · ca desviar (turn aside) · de umleiten (turn aside) · de unterhalten (entertain) · it divertirsi (entertain) · cmn 轉移 /转移 (distract) · az əyləndirmək (entertain) · cmn 遣悶 /遣闷 (entertain) · ru отклони́ть (turn aside) · fi kääntää (turn aside) · ia distraher (distract) · de umlenken (turn aside) · ru отклоня́ть (turn aside) · ia diverter (entertain) · ru отводи́ть (turn aside) · kix ī (turn aside) · de ablenken (distract) · ru развлека́ть (entertain) · fi hämätä (distract) · es entretener (entertain) · bg отвличам (distract) · el διασκεδάζω (entertain) · fi harhauttaa (distract) · ru отвле́чь (distract) · ia deviar (turn aside) · es desviar (distract) · mi whakapeau (turn aside) · it distrarsi (entertain) · az yayındırmaq (distract) · es destantear (distract)