divert traffic

Meanings

1. 1phrasetransitive

   to change the direction or route of vehicles, usually because of an accident or roadwork

   Grammar: Takes an object: divert traffic. Often used in the passive: traffic was diverted.

   Patterns

   • divert traffic from something
   • divert traffic around something
   • divert traffic to something

   Police diverted traffic away from the accident scene.

   The city diverted traffic around the construction site for three months.

   Traffic was diverted to a side road while the bridge was repaired.

2. 2phrasetransitive

   to send vehicles along a different path to avoid congestion or danger

   Grammar: Takes an object; often followed by 'away from' or 'onto'.

   Patterns

   • divert traffic away from something
   • divert traffic onto something

   Officials diverted traffic onto the highway to ease the jam.

   They diverted traffic away from the flooded underpass.

   The event organizers diverted traffic from the main street to smaller roads.

Common combinations

divert traffic from

The road was closed, so they diverted traffic from the area.

divert traffic around

Workers diverted traffic around the fallen tree.

divert traffic to

The police diverted traffic to the next exit.

divert traffic away from

They diverted traffic away from the city center.

Synonyms and how they differ

reroute

Reroute is often used for changing the path of something like a bus or train, while divert traffic is more specific to road vehicles and temporary changes.

redirect

Redirect is a general word for sending something in a new direction; it can be used for traffic but also for money, mail, or attention.

Word family

diversion noun

A different route used when the usual road is closed.

divert verb

To change the direction of something.

Commonly confused: divert traffic or diverse traffic?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “divert traffic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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