detour

noun
UK: /ˈdiːtʊə(r)/
US: /ˈdiːtʊr/

  1. A road or route used when the usual one is closed.

    1. We took a detour because of the road work today.
    2. The heavy traffic forced us to take an unexpected detour through the countryside.

  2. A change from the direct or intended route or course.

    1. My day included a detour to the grocery shop.
    2. The conversation took a surprising detour into politics during dinner with my family.

Synonyms

bypass deviation veer diverge
detour verb

  1. To go around something that is blocking your way.

    1. We had to detour around the accident.
    2. Drivers were forced to detour because of the fallen tree across the highway.

  2. To change direction or deviate from a plan or activity.

    1. The speaker often detoured from her main points.
    2. The project detoured from its original goals due to unforeseen challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "detour" in English means: A road or route used when the usual one is closed., A change from the direct or intended route or course..

The phonetic transcription of "detour" is /ˈdiːtʊə(r)/ in British English and /ˈdiːtʊr/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "detour": bypass, deviation, veer, diverge.

Example usage of "detour": "We took a detour because of the road work today.". More examples on the page.