deviate — to change direction or turn away from an established course, path, or standard
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to change direction or turn away from an established course, path, or standard
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdiːvieɪt/
Example Sentences
- My GPS told me to deviate from the highway because of a 50-car pileup ahead.
- The student's essay deviated so much from the topic that the teacher wondered if he wrote about the wrong assignment.
- The company decided to deviate from its traditional marketing strategy and try social media influencers.
deviate
VERB[/ˈdiːvieɪt/]
to change direction or turn away from an established course, path, or standard

The ship deviated from its planned route during the storm.

The pilot deviated from the flight path to avoid dangerous weather. (LEAVE THE PATH + GO OFF COURSE = DEVIATE → deviate means to move away from a standard route, plan, or expectation)

Sometimes you must deviate to navigate safely.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'deviatus', the past participle of 'deviare', which combines 'de-' (away from) and 'via' (way/road). The word originally referred to turning away from a path or road.
Breakdown
de- (away from) + via (way/road) + -ate (verb suffix) = deviate
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My GPS told me to deviate from the highway because of a 50-car pileup ahead.”
“The student's essay deviated so much from the topic that the teacher wondered if he wrote about the wrong assignment.”
“The company decided to deviate from its traditional marketing strategy and try social media influencers.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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