detour
Way around roadwork
A detour is a route taken when the usual path is blocked or unavailable: Construction forced us to take a detour.
The word implies temporary deviation with intent to return to the original course.
Figuratively, any digression from a planned path: Her career took a detour into teaching before she returned to medicine.
As a verb, to detour is to take such an alternate route.
Route that skirts obstacles
- alternateOccur in succession
- side roadSecondary route branching off
- back roadSecondary rural thoroughfare
- scenic routeRoad selected for beauty
workaround · roundabout · circuitous · indirect · shortcut · byway · access road · service road
Veering off topic
- tangentLine touching curve once
- departureAct of going away
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- sidetrackDivert from purpose
divergence · interruption · aside · detachment · excursion · meander · wandering · straying
Obstruction across a road
- constructionProcess of building something
- closureSense of emotional resolution
- barricadeObstacle blocking a path
- blockadeSealing off a place
barrier · bottleneck · gridlock · congestion · traffic jam · accident · wreck · obstruction
Not arranged beforehand
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- delayEnforced waiting period
- inconvenienceMinor difficulty or trouble
- setbackReverse in progress
disruption · unforeseen · spontaneous · impromptu · misdirection · disorientation · confusion · lost
Posted public displays
- arrowsShafted projectiles for bows
- markersPens with porous tips
- reroutingSending by different path
- wayfindingNavigating through physical spaces
directions · GPS · map · landmarks · pathfinding · cones · traffic control · flaggers
bypass
Route that skirts obstacles
- alternateOccur in succession
- side roadSecondary route branching off
- back roadSecondary rural thoroughfare
scenic route · workaround · roundabout · circuitous · indirect · shortcut · byway · access road · service road · country road
digression
Veering off topic
- tangentLine touching curve once
- departureAct of going away
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
sidetrack · divergence · interruption · aside · detachment · excursion · meander · wandering · straying · off-topic
roadblock
Obstruction across a road
- constructionProcess of building something
- closureSense of emotional resolution
- barricadeObstacle blocking a path
blockade · barrier · bottleneck · gridlock · congestion · traffic jam · accident · wreck · obstruction · road work
unplanned
Not arranged beforehand
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- delayEnforced waiting period
- inconvenienceMinor difficulty or trouble
setback · disruption · unforeseen · spontaneous · impromptu · misdirection · disorientation · confusion · lost · sidetracked
signage
Posted public displays
wayfinding · directions · GPS · map · landmarks · pathfinding · cones · traffic control · flaggers · posted
- French Loanwordsa la carte, ballet, a la mode, au revoir, bon appetit
- alternate routesbypass, alternate route, shortcut, workaround, back road
- GPS directionsleft turn, right turn, U-turn, merge, exit
- road closuresroadblock, barricade, lane closure, tunnel closure, roadwork
- routesroad, path, route, highway, freeway
- traffic signsstop signs, stop sign, yield signs, yield sign, speed limit signs
detourdirect route
Straightest path available
straight path · beeline · shortcut · direct path · as the crow flies
- detour ahead
- detour signNotice of temporary rerouting