detour

1 of 2

noun

de·​tour ˈdē-ˌtu̇r 

 also  di-ˈtu̇r

: a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure

especially : a roundabout way temporarily replacing part of a route

detour

2 of 2

verb

detoured; detouring; detours

intransitive verb

: to proceed by a detour

detour around road construction

transitive verb

1

: to send by a circuitous route

detour traffic around an accident

2

: to avoid by going around : bypass

detour an accident site

Synonyms

Noun

• deflection
• departure
• deviation
• divagation
• divergence
• divergency
• diversion

Verb

• bypass
• circumnavigate
• circumvent
• skirt

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

Noun

Trump is taking a detour from the traditional battleground states and making a rare visit to Virginia just days before the election to try to flip the state red for the first time in 20 years. —Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024

The key to keeping your marketing efforts on course is to recognize these early signs before too much ground is lost and you’re forced to take a detour. —Stephen Spratley, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Verb

Detour: Motorists are advised to use I-275 eastbound or westbound to detour. —Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 2 Nov. 2024

The following detour will take place during the weekend: Westbound traffic along I-30 will be reduced to one lane and will be detoured onto the Broadway exit (Exit 141B) in North Little Rock to Cypress Street. —Tony Holt, arkansasonline.com, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French détour, from Old French destor, from destorner to divert, from des- de- + torner to turn — more at turn

First Known Use

Noun

1738, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1836, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids 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