diverge

verb

di·​verge də-ˈvərj 

dī-

diverged; diverging

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move or extend in different directions from a common point : draw apart

diverging roads

b

: to become or be different in character or form

The friends' lives diverged after graduation.

: differ in opinion

This is where our views diverge.

2

: to turn aside from a path or course : deviate

diverge from a direct path

3

mathematics : to be divergent (see divergent sense 2)

transitive verb

: deflect

diverge a compass needle

Synonyms

• detour
• deviate
• sheer
• swerve
• swing
• turn
• turn off
• veer
• wheel

Choose the Right Synonym for diverge

swerve, veer, deviate, depart, digress, diverge mean to turn aside from a straight course.

swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

a professor prone to digress

diverge may equal depart but usually suggests a branching of a main path into two or more leading in different directions.

after school their paths diverged

Examples of diverge in a Sentence

A prism causes rays of light to diverge.

They were close friends in college, but after graduation, their lives diverged.

Recent Examples on the Web

Shanghai, Shenzhen, and the STAR Board diverged to close +1.05%, +1.24%, and +1.26%, respectively, on volume that increased +19.48% from yesterday, which is 180% of the 1-year average. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

Tectonic Forces and a Giant Plume of Magma As these tectonic plates diverge, fissures in Earth's crust crack open, allowing magma to well up and spew lava onto the surface. —Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2024

But Stewart’s words, whether spoken directly to the camera or read from private letters, tell a story that diverges from tidy fantasies. —Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 28 Nov. 2024

The diverging fortunes of the two largest discounters were underscored by earnings reports last week. —Christina Cheddar Berk, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin dīvergere "to proceed in different directions," from dī-, variant before voiced sounds of dis- dis- + vergere "to move downward, slope downward, sink" — more at verge entry 3

Note: The verb dīvergere, attested once in classical Latin, is rare before later medieval and modern Latin, where it appears in scientific and mathematical texts, often as an antonym of convergere "to converge."

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

diverge

verb

di·​verge də-ˈvərj 

dī-

diverged; diverging

: to move or extend in different directions from a common point : draw apart

diverging rays of light

two roads diverged