deviate meaning and examples

2025-08-23

Meaning

  • Deviate means to move away from an established path, direction, rule, or standard.
  • It often implies not following the expected or usual way.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Verb (intransitive and sometimes transitive)

  • Typical patterns:

    • deviate from + noun (to move away from something)
    • deviate into + noun (to move into a different direction or idea)

Examples:

  • "The plane deviated from its route."
  • "He deviated into unrelated topics during the lecture."

Common Phrases

  • deviate from the norm – to behave differently from what is usual.
  • deviate from a plan – to do something different from what was originally planned.
  • deviate from expectations – to act in a way that is not expected.

Collocations

  • verbs + deviate: choose to deviate, tend to deviate, refuse to deviate
  • nouns + deviate from: path, rule, plan, policy, standard, tradition, instructions

Examples

  1. The train deviated from its usual schedule because of technical issues.
  2. His opinion deviates from the majority view in the group.
  3. The scientists did not deviate from the research guidelines.
  4. She tends to deviate from the script when she speaks in public.
  5. The project deviated from its original goals over time.
  6. Drivers should never deviate from traffic rules.
  7. The conversation deviated into personal matters.
  8. Their approach deviates slightly from traditional teaching methods.
  • stray
  • diverge
  • digress
  • depart
  • wander
  • veer