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

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

Steven Tyler, Bret Michaels, Cyndi Lauper, Lady Gaga, Elvis Costello and even Tina Turner and Ray Charles tipped a cowboy hat to the genre, while Darius Rucker detoured from Hootie & The Blowfish to carve a sustained career in country. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 10 Nov. 2024

Westbound traffic on University Drive will be detoured at Rural Road. —Rey Covarrubias Jr., The Arizona Republic, 24 July 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