Divert: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when aiming to change the direction of something or someone's attention away from one thing to another, often to avoid or prevent something.

• The teacher tried to divert the students' attention from the noise outside.
• The project was diverted due to unexpected challenges.

Use when someone or something is causing someone to lose focus or concentration from a task; often has a negative connotation.

• The sounds from the construction site distracted him from his work.
• Her phone kept distracting her during the meeting.

Use when providing enjoyment or amusement, typically referring to organized activities such as performances, shows, or gatherings.

• The band was hired to entertain the wedding guests.
• They entertained us with stories of their travels.

Use when trying to make someone laugh or enjoy themselves, often through humor or enjoyable activities.

• The clown managed to amuse the children with his funny tricks.
• She brought board games to amuse the guests at the party.

Used when you need to change the direction of something, typically temporarily. Can be used in various contexts such as traffic, attention, funds, etc.

• The police had to divert traffic due to the accident.
• He tried to divert attention away from the issue.

Used when changing the route of someone or something, similar to 'redirect' but more commonly used in the context of transportation or networks.

• The airline had to reroute flights due to the storm.
• We need to reroute the data through a different server.

Used when you need to send someone or something to a different place or focus. Often used in a formal or technical context.

• The website will redirect you to the new page.
• We need to redirect our resources to more important projects.

Commonly used when an alternative route is taken due to some obstruction or issue on the main route. It often refers to road or pathway settings.

• We had to take a detour because the main road was closed.
• The construction made us take a detour through the countryside.

Used when changing the course or direction of something, often temporarily. This can refer to attention, traffic, or resources.

• The police had to divert traffic due to the accident.
• She tried to divert their attention from the issue.

Used in formal or administrative settings to describe assigning resources, funds, or tasks to a different place or purpose.

• The company decided to reallocate its budget to focus more on marketing.
• They reallocated staff to different departments.

Used when directing something to a new or different place or purpose. It can be used for physical movement, attention, or resources.

• The website will redirect you to the login page.
• She tried to redirect their focus to the positive aspects.

Used to describe a general or gradual change in position, direction, or focus. It can be applied to physical objects, attitudes, or resources.

• There has been a significant shift in public opinion.
• They shifted the meeting time to accommodate more people.