Diverted
/daɪˈvɜːrtɪd/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo change the direction or course of something; to turn aside from a path or purpose.
/daɪˈvɜːrtɪd/
To cause (something or someone) to change course or turn from one direction to another.
The river was diverted to irrigate the fields.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're walking home, but a parade blocks your usual route. You have to *divert*, or change, your path to get home. It's like taking a detour!
👶 For kids: When something goes a different way than it was supposed to.
More Examples
The airline diverted the flight to another airport due to the storm.
The company diverted resources away from the project.
How It's Used
"The traffic was diverted due to the accident."
"The troops were diverted from their original objective."
"The funds were diverted to a different project."
To distract someone's attention or focus.
/daɪˈvɜːrtɪd/
To distract someone or their attention from something.
The magician diverted the audience's attention with a clever trick.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're feeling sad, so you start watching a funny movie to change your focus. You've *diverted* your attention from the sadness.
👶 For kids: To make someone stop thinking about something and think about something else.
More Examples
She diverted her children by giving them a coloring book.
The news report diverted attention away from the scandal.
How It's Used
"The comedian diverted the audience with jokes."
"She diverted her anxiety by focusing on her work."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
From Middle French *divertir* ('to turn aside, amuse'), from Latin *divertere* ('to turn aside'), from *di-* ('aside') + *vertere* ('to turn').
Historically, 'divert' has been used to describe changes in both the physical direction of things (like waterways) and the mental focus of individuals.
Memory tip
Think of water being diverted from a river – it changes its route.
Word Origin
"to turn aside"