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diverge

verb
di·​verge | \ dÉ™-ˈvÉ™rj How to pronounce diverge (audio) , dÄ«-\
diverged; diverging

Definition of diverge

intransitive verb

1a : to move or extend in different directions from a common point : draw apart diverging roads
b : to become or be different in character or form The friends' lives diverged after graduation. : differ in opinion This is where our views diverge.
2 : to turn aside from a path or course : deviate diverge from a direct path
3 mathematics : to be divergent (see divergent sense 2)

transitive verb

: deflect diverge a compass needle
Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about diverge

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Choose the Right Synonym for diverge

swerve, veer, deviate, depart, digress, diverge mean to turn aside from a straight course. swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness. swerved to avoid hitting the dog veer implies a major change in direction. at that point the path veers to the right deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course. never deviated from her daily routine depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type. occasionally departs from his own guidelines digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse. a professor prone to digress diverge may equal depart but usually suggests a branching of a main path into two or more leading in different directions. after school their paths diverged

Examples of diverge in a Sentence

A prism causes rays of light to diverge. They were close friends in college, but after graduation, their lives diverged.

Recent Examples on the Web

 Note that the strands are clustered together where the forecast track is most confident but diverge where the course of the storm is less certain. — Washington Post, "Historic Hurricane Dorian unleashing ‘catastrophic’ blow in northern Bahamas. Hurricane warnings posted for Florida’s east coast.," 3 Sep. 2019 Still, Mattel is looking to break stereotypes associated with its toy franchises like Barbie, and the executives hinted that the big-screen portrayals of its iconic toys could diverge from how they have been represented in the past. — Fortune, "Move Over ‘Little Mermaid,’ ‘Barbie’ Movie Will Also Cast Minority Actors, Mattel CEO Says," 15 July 2019 One reason for regionalisation is that the American market is diverging from global trends, argues Kristin Dziczek of America’s Centre for Automotive Research, an industry-research outfit. — The Economist, "Three industriesSupply chains for different industries are fragmenting in different ways," 11 July 2019 Now that The Handmaid’s Tale has diverged from its source material, the show will have to zoom out. — Elena Nicolaou, refinery29.com, "The Handmaid's Tale," 6 June 2019 The exact point that humans and Neanderthals diverged from each other has long been a matter of intense debate among scientists. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Humans Broke Up with Neanderthals Much Longer Ago Than We Thought," 20 May 2019 The lives of best friends diverge after high-school graduation and their encounter with a pathetic loner. — Los Angeles Times, "Here are the feature and TV films airing the week of Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019," 11 Aug. 2019 The numbers diverge when the question focuses on Article 9: an Asahi poll found 33% favourable to amending it and 59% against. — The Economist, "Can Shinzo Abe change Japan’s basic law?," 10 Aug. 2019 By the 1970s, patchouli's path diverged: There was an abundant cheap stuff, sure, but the plant had also started to appear in elevated, coveted concoctions—think YSL Opium or Clinique Aromatics Elixir. — April Long, Town & Country, "Jackie Kennedy's Unexpected Love of Patchouli," 28 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'diverge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of diverge

1665, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

History and Etymology for diverge

Medieval Latin divergere, from Latin dis- + vergere to incline — more at wrench

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More Definitions for diverge

diverge

verb
How to pronounce diverge (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of diverge

formal
: to split and move out in different directions from a single point
: to be or become different

See the full definition for diverge in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on diverge

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with diverge

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for diverge

Spanish Central: Translation of diverge

Nglish: Translation of diverge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of diverge for Arabic Speakers

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