Divert
verb
To change the direction or course of something.
The river was diverted to prevent flooding in the city.
Often appears as...
- divert traffic
- divert resources
verb
To distract someone or something to a different topic or activity.
She diverted the conversation to a less controversial topic.
Often appears as...
- divert attention
- divert focus
verb
To change the use of something.
The government diverted funds from healthcare to the military.
Often appears as...
- divert funds
- divert resources
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To change the direction or course of something.
The river was diverted to prevent flooding in the city.
Often appears as...
- divert traffic
- divert resources
verb
To distract someone or something to a different topic or activity.
She diverted the conversation to a less controversial topic.
Often appears as...
- divert attention
- divert focus
verb
To change the use of something.
The government diverted funds from healthcare to the military.
Often appears as...
- divert funds
- divert resources
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Redirection
Use 'divert' when referring to the physical redirection of objects or paths.
Road crews diverted traffic around the construction site.
Pro Tip 2/3Preventive Action
'Divert' often implies an action taken to prevent a problem or hazard.
To avert disaster, engineers diverted the lava flow from the village.
Pro Tip 3/3Change Happens
'Divert' suggests a change that may be temporary or permanent.
The hiking trail was diverted due to a fallen tree.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Redirection
Use 'divert' when referring to the physical redirection of objects or paths.
Road crews diverted traffic around the construction site.
Pro Tip 2/3Preventive Action
'Divert' often implies an action taken to prevent a problem or hazard.
To avert disaster, engineers diverted the lava flow from the village.
Pro Tip 3/3Change Happens
'Divert' suggests a change that may be temporary or permanent.
The hiking trail was diverted due to a fallen tree.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Redirection
Use 'divert' when referring to the physical redirection of objects or paths.
Road crews diverted traffic around the construction site.
Pro Tip 2/3Preventive Action
'Divert' often implies an action taken to prevent a problem or hazard.
To avert disaster, engineers diverted the lava flow from the village.
Pro Tip 3/3Change Happens
'Divert' suggests a change that may be temporary or permanent.
The hiking trail was diverted due to a fallen tree.
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Video examples
The colossal consequences...
Scientists are currently monitoring the world's active volcanoes, and procedures for predicting eruptions, conducting evacuations and diverting lava flows have improved over the years. But the massive scale and global reach of a supervolcano means that for many people there would be nowhere to run.
Video examples
The Water Crisis PIPE...
any long pin smells no longer smell to date okay and this would be their habitat this is definitely their habitat and we're trying to understand why their abundances are so low and whether there's anything we can do to help save the population nowadays because we divert so much water
Video examples
Terror Bird vs. Wolves PIPE...
probably the defining moment is when the Titanes feels like its life is in danger once the terror bird gets the idea that it's in a sense outnumbered at a strategic level it's probably not going to expend this energy over that carcass is probably going to divert its energy
Video examples
Thanks to Shrimp, These...
shrimp to migrate upstream and downstream same with the fishes same with the snails when you start planting you know where do you divert the water and do you have a dam in the channel or a reservoir off channel those are important decisions for maintaining these species
Video examples
What happens during a...
by diverting blood flow to the affected area, but this isn’t a perfect solution. Eventually, the oxygen-deprived cells will start to die, leading to brain damage that may be severe or permanent. That’s why it’s important to get medical care as fast as possible.
Video examples
Understanding the colors...
divert bones of animals and others are colored dirt from different parts of the world those diverse pigments have one thing in common their color is a result of what they're made of and the relationship with light is simple they
Video examples
A Black man goes...
and we've done everything from divert gang violence in real time to help find people jobs to mentoring homeless youth. And the reason why we needed to do this is because there was a severe lack of trust in the black community
Video examples
The new era of positive...
And if technology can, in the next decade or two, increase the pleasant life, the good life and the meaningful life, it will be good enough. If entertainment can be diverted to also increase positive emotion,
Video examples
Can you outsmart the...
They focus exclusively on extreme outcomes, assigning those outcomes a degree of certainty or inevitability that rarely corresponds to reality. They divert attention from other, more likely possibilities,
Video examples
Sophisticated Mountain...
the snow buntings name reflects the kind of weather that often adorns this landscape and red grouse keep them company however by diverting your attention from
Video examples
The colossal consequences...
Scientists are currently monitoring the world's active volcanoes, and procedures for predicting eruptions, conducting evacuations and diverting lava flows have improved over the years. But the massive scale and global reach of a supervolcano means that for many people there would be nowhere to run.
Video examples
The Water Crisis PIPE...
any long pin smells no longer smell to date okay and this would be their habitat this is definitely their habitat and we're trying to understand why their abundances are so low and whether there's anything we can do to help save the population nowadays because we divert so much water
Video examples
Terror Bird vs. Wolves PIPE...
probably the defining moment is when the Titanes feels like its life is in danger once the terror bird gets the idea that it's in a sense outnumbered at a strategic level it's probably not going to expend this energy over that carcass is probably going to divert its energy
Video examples
Thanks to Shrimp, These...
shrimp to migrate upstream and downstream same with the fishes same with the snails when you start planting you know where do you divert the water and do you have a dam in the channel or a reservoir off channel those are important decisions for maintaining these species
Video examples
What happens during a...
by diverting blood flow to the affected area, but this isn’t a perfect solution. Eventually, the oxygen-deprived cells will start to die, leading to brain damage that may be severe or permanent. That’s why it’s important to get medical care as fast as possible.
Video examples
Understanding the colors...
divert bones of animals and others are colored dirt from different parts of the world those diverse pigments have one thing in common their color is a result of what they're made of and the relationship with light is simple they
Video examples
A Black man goes...
and we've done everything from divert gang violence in real time to help find people jobs to mentoring homeless youth. And the reason why we needed to do this is because there was a severe lack of trust in the black community
Video examples
The new era of positive...
And if technology can, in the next decade or two, increase the pleasant life, the good life and the meaningful life, it will be good enough. If entertainment can be diverted to also increase positive emotion,
Video examples
Can you outsmart the...
They focus exclusively on extreme outcomes, assigning those outcomes a degree of certainty or inevitability that rarely corresponds to reality. They divert attention from other, more likely possibilities,
Video examples
Sophisticated Mountain...
the snow buntings name reflects the kind of weather that often adorns this landscape and red grouse keep them company however by diverting your attention from
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Lindsay Duncan
Scottish Actress
I have done some wonderful television, but you know, there's not as much exceptional material as there is in the theatre. So I do a lot of theatre, but really, as with most actors, I just love going from one to another. It's stimulating, it's diverting, it's a different way of life, and you know, I dearly like a good mix.
Quote examples
James E. Faust
American Clergyman
I personally claim no special insight into Satan's methods, but I have at times been able to identify his influence and his actions in my life and in the lives of others. When I was on my first mission, Satan sought to divert me from my future path and, if possible, to destroy my usefulness in the Lord's work.
Quote examples
Pete Buttigieg
American Politician
Like anyone who follows politics, I am sometimes mesmerized by the twisted and relentless drama playing out in Washington. But I also know about the price of distraction - the consequences of our attention being diverted from how politics affects daily life.
Quote examples
Alicia Garza
American Activist
There has to be a readjustment of resources that is being diverted to police and policing as opposed to community health services, and there certainly has to be control over the police by the communities that they are supposed to protect and serve.
Quote examples
Charles Duhigg
American Journalist
The discovery of the habit loop is important because it reveals a basic truth: When a habit emerges, the brain stops fully participating in decision making. It stops working so hard, or diverts focus to other tasks.
Quote examples
Victoria Strauss
American Author
There is an enormous shadow industry of scammers and amateurs who prey on aspiring writers, who divert people from the real publishing industry into this shadow world of vanity publishing and fee-charging agents.
Quote examples
Virat Kohli
Indian Cricketer
I don't really read a lot of newspapers. I don't pay attention to what is being said or written about me. I've had lots of experiences in the past when I got too much into it. That sort of diverts your focus.
Quote examples
Abraham Lincoln
American President
There may sometimes be ungenerous attempts to keep a young man down; and they will succeed, too, if he allows his mind to be diverted from its true channel to brood over the attempted injury.
Quote examples
Anita Brookner
English Historian
Writing novels preserves you in a state of innocence - a lot passes you by - simply because your attention is otherwise diverted.
Quote examples
Rebecca Hall
English Actress
I think I have a job, which is to present a character in a story and entertain you and divert you with my work - that's it.
Quote examples
Lindsay Duncan
Scottish Actress
I have done some wonderful television, but you know, there's not as much exceptional material as there is in the theatre. So I do a lot of theatre, but really, as with most actors, I just love going from one to another. It's stimulating, it's diverting, it's a different way of life, and you know, I dearly like a good mix.
Quote examples
James E. Faust
American Clergyman
I personally claim no special insight into Satan's methods, but I have at times been able to identify his influence and his actions in my life and in the lives of others. When I was on my first mission, Satan sought to divert me from my future path and, if possible, to destroy my usefulness in the Lord's work.
Quote examples
Pete Buttigieg
American Politician
Like anyone who follows politics, I am sometimes mesmerized by the twisted and relentless drama playing out in Washington. But I also know about the price of distraction - the consequences of our attention being diverted from how politics affects daily life.
Quote examples
Alicia Garza
American Activist
There has to be a readjustment of resources that is being diverted to police and policing as opposed to community health services, and there certainly has to be control over the police by the communities that they are supposed to protect and serve.
Quote examples
Charles Duhigg
American Journalist
The discovery of the habit loop is important because it reveals a basic truth: When a habit emerges, the brain stops fully participating in decision making. It stops working so hard, or diverts focus to other tasks.
Quote examples
Victoria Strauss
American Author
There is an enormous shadow industry of scammers and amateurs who prey on aspiring writers, who divert people from the real publishing industry into this shadow world of vanity publishing and fee-charging agents.
Quote examples
Virat Kohli
Indian Cricketer
I don't really read a lot of newspapers. I don't pay attention to what is being said or written about me. I've had lots of experiences in the past when I got too much into it. That sort of diverts your focus.
Quote examples
Abraham Lincoln
American President
There may sometimes be ungenerous attempts to keep a young man down; and they will succeed, too, if he allows his mind to be diverted from its true channel to brood over the attempted injury.
Quote examples
Anita Brookner
English Historian
Writing novels preserves you in a state of innocence - a lot passes you by - simply because your attention is otherwise diverted.
Quote examples
Rebecca Hall
English Actress
I think I have a job, which is to present a character in a story and entertain you and divert you with my work - that's it.
Example 1 of 10
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