detour

1 of 2

noun

de·​tour ˈdē-ˌtu̇r How to pronounce detour (audio)
 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

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
Wiig’s life path has taken unplanned loops and detours. Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 Here's everything Arizona drivers need to know, including closure details and potential detours. The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 For detours, drivers can utilize South 27th Street, Layton Avenue and South 60th Street. Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Hundreds of ships have been forced to take a lengthy detour around southern Africa, driving up costs. Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024 Be sure to visit the Natchez Trace Parkway for a scenic detour. Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024 Its songs are immediate and accessible, tapping the group’s keen pop instincts, but densely constructed and garnished with unexpected detours. Alex Swhear, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024 Such detours could add as much as a month in transit time, delaying the delivery of goods and further disrupting international commerce — a sector already grappling with the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, rising inflation and disruptions caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024 The sinking could see further detours and higher insurance rates put on vessels plying the waterway — potentially driving up global inflation and affecting aid shipments to the region. TIME, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
Police had advised drivers to detour onto the Ronald Reagan Highway. Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 29 Feb. 2024 Southbound traffic on the 110 will be detoured to exit at the 10 Freeway interchange and reenter the 110 at either Exposition Boulevard or Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2024 Drivers were detoured via Interstate 29/35 over the Bond Bridge on the northeast corner of downtown. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024 Northbound traffic will be detoured via Southeast Seventh Street, Southeast Third Avenue and Broward Boulevard. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2024 Motorists will be detoured around the work at the Tavern Road off-ramp and then sent back to the freeway via the Tavern on-ramp. Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2024 Local and business traffic will be able to approach, but through traffic will be detoured. Jordan Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Aug. 2023 Remaining trolley lines were running outside of downtown with delays, and several Metropolitan Transit System bus routes were detoured. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2024 Southbound traffic will be detoured via Broward Boulevard, Southeast Third Avenue and Davie Boulevard. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'detour.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of detour was in 1738

Dictionary Entries Near detour

Cite this Entry

“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detour. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

detour

1 of 2 noun
de·​tour ˈdē-ˌtu̇(ə)r How to pronounce detour (audio)
 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

More from Merriam-Webster on detour

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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