Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense diverts, present participle diverting, past tense, past participle diverted
1. verb
To divert vehicles or travellers means to make them follow a different route or go to a different destination than they originally intended. You can also say that someone or something divertsfrom a particular route or to a particular place.
[British]
...Rainham Marshes, east London, where a new bypass will divert traffic from theA13. [V n + from/to]
During the strike, ambulances will be diverted to private hospitals. [V n from/to n]
We diverted a plane to rescue 100 passengers. [VERB noun]
She insists on diverting to a village close to the airport. [VERB + from/to]
The capital remained jammed with diverted traffic. [VERB-ed]
regional note: in AM, use detour
Synonyms: redirect, switch, avert, deflect More Synonyms of divert
2. verb
To divert money or resources means to cause them to be used for a different purpose.
The government is trying to divert more public funds from west to east. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
...government departments involved in diverting resources into community care. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
[Also VERB noun]
3. verb
To divert a phone call means to send it to a different number or place from the one that was dialled by the person making the call.
He instructed switchboard staff to divert all Laura's calls to him. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Customers will only incur additional call charges if the call is diverted outsidethe U.K.. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
[Also VERB noun]
4. verb
If you say that someone diverts your attention from something important or serious, you disapprove of them behaving or talking in a way that stops you thinking about it.
[disapproval]
They want to divert the attention of the people from the real issues. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
The President needed to divert attention away from his own economic record. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: distract, shift, deflect, detract More Synonyms of divert
More Synonyms of divert
divert in British English
(daɪˈvɜːt)
verb
1.
to turn (a person or thing) aside from a course; deflect
2. (transitive)
to entertain; amuse
3. (transitive)
to distract the attention of
Derived forms
diverter (diˈverter)
noun
divertible (diˈvertible)
adjective
diverting (diˈverting)
adjective
divertingly (diˈvertingly)
adverb
divertive (diˈvertive)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from French divertir, from Latin dīvertere to turn aside, from di-2 + vertere to turn
divert in American English
(dəˈvɜrt; daɪˈvɜrt)
verb transitive
1.
to turn (a person or thing) aside from a course, direction, etc. into another; deflect
2.
to distract the attention of
3.
to amuse; entertain
SIMILAR WORDS: aˈmuse
Word origin
ME diverten < OFr divertir < L divertere: see diverse
Examples of 'divert' in a sentence
divert
He thought this was a cheap shot by the chemical industry to divert attention away from pesticides.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But she sees it as me diverting my attention elsewhere.
The Sun (2016)
All flights were suspended with planes diverted to other airports.
The Sun (2016)
He said that he thought it was wrong for so much money to be diverted from patient care.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They risk diverting aid money from those who need it most to those who have no need of it at all.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So it must be painfully apparent to a leading man giving his all in a big musical number when the audience has its attention forcibly diverted.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He said:'It is fantastic this money will be diverted from vanity projects to saving lives.
The Sun (2017)
Shouldn't our aid money be diverted for three months to support our NHS?
The Sun (2017)
In its current construct, the NIC is in danger of becoming just a mildly diverting government think tank.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But it has emerged that the government diverted most of the money elsewhere.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
That would be wrong and divert funds away from essential care.
The Sun (2015)
It proved that the plane had diverted drastically from its flight plan.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They can also save by diverting calls to voicemail or texting instead of phoning.
The Sun (2006)
Traffic was being diverted and backing up down side streets.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is welcome that savings in departmental spending are being diverted to capital spending programmes.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The disclosure comes as the government faces pressure to divert money to protect defence spending.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It should be diverting parents away from contested hearings into the making of parenting plans.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They also divert labour and capital towards protected industries and away from more productive uses.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But four miles from the base the student pilot had to divert his plane to avoid a crash.
The Sun (2011)
By no means should a diplomatic plane with the president be diverted from its route and forced to land in another country.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Still, its stars and its general polish make it diverting enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But the financial crisis has diverted governments' attention.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Through traffic will be diverted via the A303.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But this call is diverted, so the bank talks to the fraudster instead.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Still, its action scenes make it diverting.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Margaret tried to talk of other things, but was in too much discomfort to exert herself enough to divert his attention.
Charlotte M. Yonge The Daisy Chain (1837)
Its enduring economic effects are to divert scarce capital from more productive uses, and to provoke other countries to erect trade barriers.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Music of quality, in the context of worship, does not entertain or divert.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Soon you will have something new to divert you on a wet Bank Holiday.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They're just making time so that people's attention is diverted.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The plan was abandoned, the lot was sold at a profit, and the funds were diverted to another purpose.
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
divert
British English: divert VERB
To divert vehicles or travelers means to make them go a different route. You can also say that someone or something diverts from a particular route.