: a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure
especially
: a roundabout way temporarily replacing part of a route
detoured; detouring; detours
: to proceed by a detour
detour around road construction
1
: to send by a circuitous route
detour traffic around an accident
2
: to avoid by going around : bypass
detour an accident site
Examples of detour in a Sentence
Noun
After a number of unexpected detours, we finally arrived at our destination.
The little restaurant is worth a detour.
We had to make a detour around the heaviest traffic.
We took a detour from the main streets.
The road is closed ahead, so traffic will have to follow the detour.
Verb
We detoured around the heaviest traffic.
A police officer was detouring traffic around the scene of the accident.
Traffic will be detoured to 72nd Street.
Recent Examples on the Web
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
For something even more offbeat, take a detour to the Katla Geopark for ice cave adventures in near solitude.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 7 June 2025
Traffic will be detoured around the section of the Douglas County interchange starting at 8 p.m., with the detour lifting 5 a.m. Monday.
—Max Levy, Denver Post, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detour
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
There’s a stand-out scene where Matthew Lillard, playing Marty’s acquaintance Gus, advises him to take a detour to work as a sinkhole has just opened up on the road to his commute.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
For something even more offbeat, take a detour to the Katla Geopark for ice cave adventures in near solitude.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Verb
Drivers will be detoured from Portestowne Way to Forester Street and Corporate Center Drive, and back onto N.C. 150.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 7 June 2025
Traffic will be detoured around the section of the Douglas County interchange starting at 8 p.m., with the detour lifting 5 a.m. Monday.
—Max Levy, Denver Post, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detour
Cite this Entry
“Detour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detour. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detour
1 of 2 noun
de·tour
ˈdē-ˌtu̇(ə)r 
also di-ˈtu̇(ə)r
: a departure from a direct course or the usual procedure
especially
: a roundabout way temporarily replacing a regular route
detour
2 of 2 verb
: to send or proceed by a detour
detour traffic around an accident
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share