divert

USAGE SUMMARY

Divert is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used as a verb meaning to turn aside or to distract. For example, "The crowd was diverted by the street performer's juggling act."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At the very least, the judgment is a political setback for Republicans nationally, who are having to divert funds and resources they to defend what should be safe, conservative territory.

The Guardian

Some executives are hesitant to embrace sustainability initiatives, assuming that they will divert resources from more business-minded pursuits.

The Guardian

One columnist for the state agency RIA Novosti said the whole scandal was a "tried and tested American method of brain control" to divert attention from allegations of NSA spying.

The Guardian - Sport

They also serve delicious samosas and mango lassi and have a flat-screen TV showing what appear to be Bollywood action flicks to divert you while you wait.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Knight gets out the scoop … and gets the finest of toes onto the ball, just doing enough to divert the ball to the fine leg boundary.

The Guardian - Sport

When the NSP is abolished from 2015 analysts predict some universities may divert money to longer-term outreach work – again at a decentralised level.

The Guardian

I have been the fat applicant, and have always done everything in my power to divert attention away from my weight.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Ministry of Justice said it was working to divert women from custody and was pushing ahead with a programme to support children through "intensive family interventions".

The Guardian

That seemed to spark United into action and Ayr defender David Craig got back quickly to divert to safety a shot from Dodds after keeper David Castilla had been beatten.

The Guardian - Sport

Humanure composting is simple and elegant; it doesn't require a special toilet seat, or tubing to divert urine from the compost matrix.

The Guardian

He indicated that there would be an overhaul of sentencing policy with more alternatives to short sentences and plans to divert the mentally ill and those addicted to drugs into secure treatment centres.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "divert", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being redirected and the new destination or focus. For example, "The funds were diverted from infrastructure projects to emergency relief efforts."

Common error

Avoid using "divert" when a more neutral term like "transfer" or "reallocate" would be more appropriate. "Divert" often carries a negative connotation, suggesting a disruption or deviation from the intended course.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "divert" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object to complete its meaning. As supported by Ludwig, it signifies the act of turning something aside from its original course or purpose, either physically or figuratively. For example, one might "divert funds" or "divert attention".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

29%

Science

27%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "divert" functions primarily as a transitive verb, indicating the act of turning something aside from its intended course or focus. As confirmed by Ludwig, its communicative purpose involves a change of direction, redirecting resources or attention. With a neutral register, "divert" is appropriate for various contexts, including news, business, and science. While grammatically correct and frequently used, be mindful of its potentially negative connotation. Using alternatives like "redirect" or "transfer" may be more suitable depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

redirect

Focuses on changing the direction of something.

deflect

Implies turning something aside from a straight course or path.

reroute

Specifically suggests changing the route of something.

distract

Emphasizes drawing attention away from something.

draw away

Indicates pulling something or someone away.

turn aside

A more literal way to express changing direction.

channel

Suggests directing something into a specific path or direction.

shift

Implies a change in position or focus.

repurpose

Suggests using something for a different purpose than originally intended.

transfer

Focuses on moving something from one place to another.

FAQs

How to use "divert" in a sentence?

You can use "divert" to mean to turn aside from a course or to distract. For example, "They had to divert the river due to construction" or "The magician used tricks to divert the audience's attention".

What can I say instead of "divert"?

You can use alternatives like "redirect", "deflect", or "distract" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "divert attention" or "divert the attention"?

"Divert attention" and "divert the attention" are both correct, but "divert attention" is more common. Using "the" specifies which attention is being diverted, while omitting it makes it more general.

What's the difference between "divert" and "deflect"?

"Divert" means to turn aside or redirect, while "deflect" means to ward off or turn aside something coming directly at you. You might divert resources to a new project, but deflect criticism with a clever response.