detour 1 of 2

Definition of detournext
as in deviation
a turning away from a course or standard we'll regard this relapse as just a brief detour on your road to recovery from substance abuse

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detour

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to bypass
to avoid by going around we had to detour the construction zone in order to get to the stadium

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2
as in to deviate
to change one's course or direction we had to detour for a few miles around the section of highway under construction

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of detour
Noun
Take a quick detour off the Pacific Coast Highway to explore quaint streets full of Danish architecture, antique shops, and restaurants. Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 23 June 2026 Cargo that may have once required detours to competing ports can now move efficiently by rail, strengthening the port’s role as a driver of jobs and economic activity for the region. Wes Moore, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2026
Verb
During the closure, motorists will be detoured from Richards Boulevard to westbound I-80, then routed to Old Davis Road to return to eastbound I-80, Caltrans said. Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026 Drivers now have to detour at Mclaughlin Drive to reach the airport. Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for detour
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detour
Noun
  • When the complex was being constructed, there were deviations from the building’s original design, contributing to structural weaknesses, the report said.
    Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026
  • In 2023 a collaboration of radio astronomers reported tiny deviations in the timing of these flashes from dozens of pulsars in the Milky Way.
    Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • When a user asks an AI to find a running shoe that can arrive by Friday for under $100, the agent bypasses the company's storefront entirely.
    Arne Jeroschewski, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Commissioners also discussed Florida’s Live Local Act, which allows qualifying housing developments to bypass certain local zoning regulations.
    Sofia Baltodano, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The final point is that markets often deviate from rewarding the long-term drivers of stock performance, like valuation and quality, which makes sticking with a winning formula very difficult.
    Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • The one state that deviated from this was Kentucky, which chose red velvet as its favorite cake.
    Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • The trade comes after years of uncertainty surrounding Milwaukee's direction following the departure of championship-winning head coach Mike Budenholzer in 2023 and caps a steady decline that culminated in the Bucks missing the 2026 playoffs.
    Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
  • The pound eased against major currencies as speculation mounted that Starmer was going to set out a timetable for his departure.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Former Republican Secretary of State and election law attorney Scott Gessler, who represented plaintiffs in court, says Democrats tried to circumvent the constitution by bringing two separate but interdependent measures.
    Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers are strategically building plants in Europe to circumvent potential tariffs and secure their market presence.
    Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Atlanta experts in fitness and nutrition say the World Cup offers a rare opportunity for people to turn inspiration into action.
    Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
  • The values imparted to me throughout my public school education — equal opportunity, impartial justice, respect for expertise, basic honesty — have been abandoned by a new breed of politician that has turned governance itself into a blood sport.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Other methods to reduce the harm from sweltering temperatures include more breaks and flexible shifts so workers can avoid the midday sun, according to the WHO.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • While the morning may feel personal — especially if someone questions your judgment, appearance or direction — avoid treating their feedback (or silence) as rejection.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Any behavior requires a coordinated action across the brain—swing a baseball bat, complete a math problem—and the more the action is repeated, the more the associated neural pathways will strengthen.
    James Davis, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • Ryan returned the favor in the fourth, getting Dalton Rushing, Freeland and Ohtani to all swing and miss.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detour. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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