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# divert

verb (divert, diverts, diverted, diverting)

«divert» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To make something or someone change direction or go a different way: «divert traffic», «divert a river». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/divert/#m1)
2. To use money, time or supplies for a different purpose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/divert/#m2)
3. To take someone's attention away from something: «divert attention». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/divert/#m3)
4. (formal, old) To amuse or entertain someone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/divert/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life and news, flights and traffic are diverted because of storms or accidents; road signs say «Diversion». In stories a character may divert a guard's attention to escape. In safety lessons, following diversion signs keeps you safe. Phrases: «divert traffic», «divert attention from», «divert a flight», «divert funds».

### Examples

- The police diverted the traffic round the accident. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/divert/#x1)
- Our flight was diverted to another airport because of fog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/divert/#x2)
- The farmers diverted the stream to water their fields. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/divert/#x3)
- He told a joke to divert attention from his mistake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/divert/#x4)
- The school diverted money to buy new books. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/divert/#x5)
- (formal) The puppet show diverted the children for an hour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/divert/#x6)
- Thus they diverted themselves till evening, and in the evening they made ready to go to sleep. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/divert/#x7)

### Note

Noun: «diversion» (UK: a road detour; also something to amuse you). Adjective «diverting» means amusing (formal). Do not confuse with «divest» or «convert».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «divert» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/divert/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«divert» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/divert.html) on Mova free.