divert
divert
(daɪvɜːʳt , US dɪ- )Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense diverts , present participle diverting , past tense, past participle diverted
1. verb
To divert vehicles or travellers means to make them follow a different route or go to a different destination than they originally intended. You can also say that someone or something diverts from a particular route or to a particular place.
[British]...Rainham Marshes, east London, where a new bypass will divert traffic from the A13. [V n + from/to]
During the strike, ambulances will be diverted to private hospitals. [V n from/to n]
We diverted a plane to rescue 100 passengers. [VERB noun]
She insists on diverting to a village close to the airport. [VERB + from/to]
The capital remained jammed with diverted traffic. [VERB-ed]
regional note: in AM, use detour2. verb
The government is trying to divert more public funds from west to east. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
...government departments involved in diverting resources into community care. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
[Also VERB noun]3. verb
To divert a phone call means to send it to a different number or place from the one that was dialled by the person making the call.
He instructed switchboard staff to divert all Laura's calls to him. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Customers will only incur additional call charges if the call is diverted outside the U.K.. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
[Also VERB noun]4. verb
If you say that someone diverts your attention from something important or serious, you disapprove of them behaving or talking in a way that stops you thinking about it.
[disapproval]They want to divert the attention of the people from the real issues. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
The President needed to divert attention away from his own economic record. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
[Also VERB noun]