Standard Lemma guide

divagate

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈdaɪvəˌɡeɪt/
  • General-American: /ˈdɪvəˌɡeɪt/

1

verb

Meaning 1

To wander about.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To stray from a subject or theme.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She always digresses when telling a story
  • her mind wanders
  • Don't digress when you give a lecture

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: digress, stray, wander

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: tell

History

Etymology

First attested in 1599; borrowed from Latin dīvagātus, perfect active participle of dīvagor (“to wander here and there”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from Latin dis- (“in different direction”) + vagor (“to wander”). Cognate with French divaguer.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: отклонявам се (otklonjavam se) — stray from a subject
  • Bulgarian: лутам се (lutam se) — stray from a subject