divert myself

USAGE SUMMARY

"divert myself" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to indicate that you are distracting yourself from something, usually for a period of time. For example: "Whenever I'm feeling down, I like to divert myself with a few hours of video games."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Once, early in my journalistic career, I spent an unhappy season writing the stock market report for United Press International, and I remember trying to divert myself by beginning all my verbs with the same letter.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I diverted myself by trying to track said smoke's points of emanation from the floor of the stage.

The New York Times

The jokes simply popped into my head as a way of diverting myself from the musical's predictable plot and as a defence mechanism against its carefully calibrated Christmassy charm.

The Guardian

— Robert Hooke, "Micrographia" (1665) To myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.

The New York Times - Science

What, to me, seems even more surprising is that Newton, who supposedly described his life as "like a boy playing on the sea-shore diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell", hasn't made much more of a splash in popular culture.

BBC

In a later memoir, Newton wrote: I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.

Wikipedia

I catch myself diverting my attention so that I don't have to look".

The Guardian

I found myself diverting my attention to Instagram or Facebook while watching "The Coat Hanger".

Huffington Post

I fancied myself a classics scholar then though I'd soon divert into a major in history and wasn't curious about contemporary political theory; nor did I believe Super Goat Man to be a superior teacher.

The New Yorker

I fancied myself a classics scholar then — though I'd soon divert into a major in history — and wasn't curious about contemporary political theory; nor did I believe Super Goat Man to be a superior teacher.

The New Yorker

"The chief end I propose to myself in all my labours is to vex the world rather than divert it".

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "divert myself" when you want to emphasize a conscious effort to distract yourself from something unpleasant or boring. It suggests a deliberate act of seeking amusement or distraction.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "divert myself" can sound slightly formal in very casual conversation. Opt for more relaxed alternatives like "distract myself" or "take my mind off things" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "divert myself" functions as a reflexive verb phrase, where the action of diverting is directed back to the subject. Ludwig examples show it used to describe intentionally drawing one's attention away from something unpleasant or tedious. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

25%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "divert myself" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe intentionally distracting oneself from something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not exceptionally common, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. Consider alternatives such as "distract myself" or "entertain myself" for slightly more informal contexts. Use "divert myself" when you wish to emphasize a conscious and deliberate effort to shift your attention, as this phrase is appropriate for expressing active self-redirection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distract myself

Replaces "divert" with a more common synonym, focusing on drawing attention away from something.

distract my thoughts

Specifically targets mental distraction rather than physical action.

take my mind off things

An idiomatic expression for relieving oneself of worries or troubles.

entertain myself

Shifts the focus to providing amusement or enjoyment as a form of distraction.

amuse myself

Similar to 'entertain myself', but with a connotation of lighthearted enjoyment.

turn my attention elsewhere

Highlights the redirection of focus to a different subject or activity.

occupy myself

Highlights filling one's time with activity to avoid dwelling on something.

shift my focus

Implies a change in concentration from one thing to another.

find a distraction

Focuses on the act of seeking out something to divert attention.

lose myself in something

Suggests a complete absorption in an activity, providing a strong form of diversion.

FAQs

What does "divert myself" mean?

The phrase "divert myself" means to distract oneself from something, usually something unpleasant or boring, by engaging in an enjoyable or interesting activity.

What can I say instead of "divert myself"?

You can use alternatives like "distract myself", "entertain myself", or "occupy myself" depending on the context.

How can I use "divert myself" in a sentence?

Example: "I found myself completely bored, so I tried to "divert myself" by reading a book."

When is it appropriate to use "divert myself"?

It is appropriate to use "divert myself" when you want to express a deliberate act of distracting oneself from something, often due to boredom, stress, or other negative feelings.