detour
de
ˈdi
di
tour
tʊr
toor
/dˈiːtɔː/

Definition & Meaning of "detour"in English

Detour
01

a temporary route used to bypass a closed or blocked section of road

Dialectamerican flagAmerican
detour definition and meaning
Grammatical Information
animacy status
inanimate
Composition
Compound
countable
plural form
detours

What is a "detour"?

A detour is a temporary change in the usual route due to roadwork, an accident, or other obstacles. It directs drivers to use an alternate path to avoid a blocked or unsafe area. Detours are meant to keep traffic moving smoothly and safely, even if it means taking a longer or less direct route. Signs or signals are often placed to guide drivers along the detour and help them return to their original route once the issue is resolved.

Examples
They took a detour due to road construction.
02

a shift in focus or attention away from the primary subject or task

Examples
The meeting took a detour when they started discussing the new project.
03

a change or diversion from the planned path, often due to unexpected obstacles or circumstances

Examples
A detour added an hour to our travel time.
to detour
01

to take or lead on a roundabout way, especially when a more direct route is unavailable or blocked

Grammatical Information
Composition
Simple
movement verb
regular
present tense
detour
3rd person singular
detours
present participle
detouring
past simple
detoured
past participle
detoured
Examples
The road was closed for construction, so the drivers had to detour through a nearby neighborhood.
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