The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook by BETTER WORDS R. B. Skinner

4.8

✔ Add 3,700 must-know words to your vocabulary.

✔ All-in-one: dictionary, thesaurus, & workbook.

✔ 632 pages, 147 lessons, 428 practical activities.

✔ Suitable for students & professionals of all ages.

✔ Ideal preparation for: TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, CPE, BEC, PTE, FCE

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Best Seller:

#1 Spelling & Vocabulary.

#1 Education TOEFL & TOEIC.

#1 Slang & Idiom Reference Books.

Transform Your Vocabulary Today!

divert

verb

/dɪˈvɜrt/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of divert

To redirect or change the course or direction of something, whether it be physical objects, resources, attention, or activities.
"She tried to divert the conversation to a more lighthearted topic."

Detailed meaning of divert

When someone diverts something, they steer it away from its original path or intended destination towards a different direction or purpose. This can involve physically altering the route or path of movement, such as diverting a river or diverting traffic to an alternate route. Additionally, 'divert' can also refer to shifting someone's attention or focus onto a different topic or activity, often in order to provide entertainment, relief, or a distraction from the current situation. It can involve redirecting resources or funds from one purpose to another, such as diverting money from a project to address urgent needs. Overall, 'divert' signifies the intentional act of changing or redirecting the course, flow, or attention of something towards an alternative path or objective.

Example sentences containing divert

1. Please divert the water to the west field.
2. We need to divert resources to the new project immediately.
3. The engineers will divert the road to avoid the landslide area.
4. They plan to divert funds to cover the increasing cost of healthcare.
5. To save the village, you must divert the river.
6. If we divert attention from the main issue, we risk losing credibility.

History and etymology of divert

The verb 'divert' has its etymological roots in the Latin word 'divertare,' which is a combination of 'dis,' meaning 'apart,' and 'vertere,' meaning 'to turn.' Consequently, the etymology of 'divert' conveys the act of turning something apart or redirecting it from its original course or direction. This concept of redirection extends to various aspects, including physical objects, resources, attention, or activities. 'Divert' is used to describe the action of altering the path or destination of something, often for a specific purpose or to achieve a different outcome. The word's historical ties to the idea of turning away or changing direction underlie its modern usage to signify redirection or alteration in a broad range of contexts.

Quiz: Find the meaning of the verb divert:

answer1

answer2

answer3

answer4

Try Again!

Correct!

Continue Quiz

Further usage examples of divert

1. The plan to divert the asteroid might just save our planet.
2. We can divert excess power to the charging stations.
3. To optimize network performance, we have to divert traffic during peak hours.
4. You must divert your focus from the past to the future.
5. If we don't divert the train, it'll collide with the stalled car.
6. He proposed to divert the funds from the social programs to military expenses.
7. We'll divert the supply chain to our new facility in Nevada.
8. Can we divert some of the budget to marketing efforts?
9. They may divert some of the wine to the storage cellar.
10. We should divert the discussion back to the original topic.
11. I'll divert my energy to this new venture.
12. To save the endangered species, we should divert the hunting trails.
13. You need to divert your emotions to something productive.
14. Can we divert the freighter to the nearest port for repairs?