Library / English Dictionary

DIVERT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Send on a course or in a direction different from the planned or intended one

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "divert" is one way to...):

direct; send (cause to go somewhere)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "divert"):

route (divert in a specified direction)

deviate (cause to turn away from a previous or expected course)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Turn aside; turn away from

Synonyms:

deviate; divert

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "divert" is one way to...):

turn (change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "divert"):

yaw (deviate erratically from a set course)

detour (travel via a detour)

depart; digress; sidetrack; straggle (wander from a direct or straight course)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

diversion (a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Withdraw (money) and move into a different location, often secretly and with dishonest intentions

Synonyms:

divert; hive off

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "divert" is one way to...):

draw; draw off; take out; withdraw (remove (a commodity) from (a supply source))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion

Example:

The play amused the ladies

Synonyms:

amuse; disport; divert

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "divert" is one way to...):

entertain (provide entertainment for)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to divert Sue

Derivation:

diversion (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates)

Credits

 Context examples: 

But I think we must divert the way we use plastic, particularly in terms of single-use plastic and those objects that have a very short service lifespan.

(Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch Growing Rapidly, Study Finds, VOA)

The studied indifference, insolence, and discontent of her husband gave her no pain; and when he scolded or abused her, she was highly diverted.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Thus Elizabeth endeavoured to divert her thoughts and mine from all reflection upon melancholy subjects.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

I send my shirts two at a time, for if you send more it excites the woman and diverts her attention.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice she has been waylaid. There has been no result.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You divert me against my conscience.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The ash plumes rose as high as 30,000 feet (9 kilometers) into the sky, diverting flights.

(NASA Shows New Tongan Island Made of Tuff Stuff, Likely to Persist Years, NASA)

We must feel that every addition to your father's society, among his equals or superiors, may be of use in diverting his thoughts from those who are beneath him.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

But, because there is so much more defective virus in the cells than genetically intact virus, these defective viruses act as a decoy and divert the immune system.

(HIV seeks refuge in immune cells to avoid full elimination, SciDev.Net)

When ATP supplies are abundant, the acetyl-CoA can be diverted to other purposes like energy storage in the form of fatty acids.

(Acetyl Group Shuttle Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)