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detour

1 synonyms and 0 antonyms for detour, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — An indirect route taken instead of the direct one.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

roundabout way

How to use detour

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

take a detour a scenic detour forced to detour

Etymology

From French détour, from détourner ("to turn away").

Full origin of detour →

Frequently asked questions

What does “detour” mean?

The word “detour” means an indirect route taken instead of the direct one. In plain terms, a roundabout route away from the usual one, often because of a closure.

How do you pronounce “detour”?

“Detour” is pronounced DEE-taw (/ˈdi.toɹ/ in IPA).

How do you use “detour” in a sentence?

Here is “detour” used in a sentence: “We took a detour to avoid the accident on the motorway.”

What part of speech is “detour”?

Depending on how it is used, “detour” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “detour” come from?

The word “detour” comes from French. From French détour, from détourner ("to turn away").

Is “detour” a common word?

“Detour” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “detour” have?

“Detour” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an indirect route taken instead of the direct one.

Related words

Nearby words

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.