: a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure
especially
: a roundabout way temporarily replacing part of a route
detoured; detouring; detours
: to proceed by a detour
detour around road construction
1
: to send by a circuitous route
detour traffic around an accident
2
: to avoid by going around : bypass
detour an accident site
Synonyms
Examples of detour in a Sentence
Noun
After a number of unexpected detours, we finally arrived at our destination.
The little restaurant is worth a detour.
We had to make a detour around the heaviest traffic.
We took a detour from the main streets.
The road is closed ahead, so traffic will have to follow the detour.
Verb
We detoured around the heaviest traffic.
A police officer was detouring traffic around the scene of the accident.
Traffic will be detoured to 72nd Street.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024
While his tenure delivered bold moves, his exit reminds us that even the best drivers sometimes face unexpected detours.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 24 July 2024
Starting July 15, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail will be detoured to the north along the east side of Pleasant Valley Road, continuing west on Canterbury Street and finish South on Pedernales and Holly streets.
—Ines Chomnalez, Austin American-Statesman, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for detour 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The Texas crew are finally back at the ranch now (what was even the point of that whole narrative detour to the Four Sixes?), and Teeter is still processing the loss of Colby.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024
While his tenure delivered bold moves, his exit reminds us that even the best drivers sometimes face unexpected detours.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
Route 55 will detour off of Layton Avenue between 60th & 68th Street from 6 a.m. on July 24 to 6 a.m. on July 29.
—Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 24 July 2024
Starting July 15, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail will be detoured to the north along the east side of Pleasant Valley Road, continuing west on Canterbury Street and finish South on Pedernales and Holly streets.
—Ines Chomnalez, Austin American-Statesman, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for detour
Dictionary Entries Near detour
Cite this Entry
“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detour. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detour
1 of 2 noun
de·tour
ˈdē-ˌtu̇(ə)r 
also di-ˈtu̇(ə)r
: a departure from a direct course or the usual procedure
especially
: a roundabout way temporarily replacing a regular route
detour
2 of 2 verb
: to send or proceed by a detour
detour traffic around an accident
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share