deviate

USAGE SUMMARY

"deviate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a verb meaning "to depart from a set course or accepted standard" or a noun meaning "a departure from the norm." Example sentence: The students deviated from the curriculum, introducing their own ideas into their presentations.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Deviations can be recognized as deviations only against this norm, and if they deviate too far they can't be recognized at all.[11] Thus, if who I am is defined through existing, this "who" is normally pre-defined by what is average, by the roles available to me in my culture, and so on.

SEP

Freud got his first job from Gordon Brown, and Ed Miliband has no plans to save the ILF or to significantly deviate from the coalition's cuts.

The Guardian - Opinion

With a crisis boiling over in the eurozone again, he was right not to deviate from this road, difficult as it may be.

The Guardian

Columnists who support the political status quo are treated as thoughtful and nuanced; the tiny few that deviate are treated as predictable.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hutchinson appealed against his whole-life sentence in 2008 but the high court and the court of appeal both found that, given the seriousness of his crimes, there was no reason to deviate from the whole-life term.

The Guardian

And they will certainly not be allowed to deviate from the calamitous austerity imposed upon them.

The Guardian - Opinion

"A danger is if you see an easy opportunity and you deviate from your business plan or expand your routes too quickly," he says.

The Economist

Essentially the graph shows that annual GDP growth didn't deviate much from its average during the Great Moderation from 1947 to 2007.

The Economist

He, in turn, has started to identify cheats by setting benchmark levels for tax payments for different industries, and then investigating companies that deviate from them markedly.

The Economist

Furthermore, the inflation-risk premium is also low, which in the model means that inflation is not expected to deviate far from expectations.Emphasis mine.

The Economist

These will be able to set pay and conditions for staff, deviate from the national curriculum, decide the length of school days and terms, and so forth.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "deviate", ensure the context clearly establishes the original standard or course from which the departure occurs.

Common error

Avoid using "deviate" without specifying what the subject is deviating from. This omission can lead to ambiguity and confusion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "deviate" is as an intransitive verb, indicating an action of moving away from a specified course or standard. As Ludwig AI points out, this usage is common across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "deviate" is a versatile verb used to describe a departure from a set course, standard, or plan. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and formal writing. When using "deviate", ensure clarity by specifying the reference point from which the departure occurs. Consider alternatives like "stray from" or "diverge from" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stray from

Indicates a wandering or unintentional departure from a path or plan.

diverge from

Suggests a branching off or difference in direction or opinion.

depart from

Implies a formal or deliberate divergence from a norm or standard.

veer off course

Emphasizes a change in direction, often unexpectedly.

differ from

Highlights a contrast or dissimilarity between two things.

digress from

Refers to a temporary departure from the main topic in speech or writing.

wander from

Implies a casual or undirected departure.

swerve from

Suggests a sudden or sharp turn away from a course.

drift away from

Indicates a gradual or subtle departure.

deflect from

Implies a turning aside or avoidance of something.

FAQs

How to use "deviate" in a sentence?

"Deviate" can be used to describe a departure from a standard, plan, or expectation. For example, "The company decided to "deviate from" its original business plan to explore new markets."

What can I say instead of "deviate"?

You can use alternatives like "stray from", "diverge from", or "depart from" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "deviate away from"?

While understandable, "deviate away from" is somewhat redundant. It's generally better to simply use ""deviate from"".

What's the difference between "deviate" and "diverge"?

"Deviate" typically implies a departure from an established norm or plan, while "diverge" suggests a branching off or difference in direction. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the violation of a standard or simply a difference in path.