diverge
gb/dɪvˈɚd͡ʒ/ us/dɪvˈɚd͡ʒ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
B2
state
1
become different; not agree
If two things diverge, they become different and do not match.
Usage pattern:
[things/people] diverge (on/in [topic])
Common mistake:
Don’t use *diverge* to mean simply “change”; it implies becoming different from something else.
Synonyms
differ (More general and less formal.)
|
vary (Often about degree or amount rather than disagreement.)
|
conflict (Stronger: suggests direct incompatibility.)
Antonyms
agree (Have the same view or match.)
|
converge (Become more similar or come together.)
Collocations
diverge sharply
|diverge widely
|diverge significantly
|opinions diverge
|views diverge
|accounts diverge
|results diverge
|their stories diverge
|begin to diverge
|diverge over time
Themes
communication
|thinking
|news_media
|business
Examples
- Their accounts of what happened diverge on key details.
- Experts’ views diverge on how quickly prices will fall.
- The two reports start similarly but diverge after the first chapter.
Learner examples
- Our opinions diverge on this issue.
- The numbers diverge after April.
Verb
B2
action
2
split and go different ways
If two roads or lines diverge, they split and go in different directions.
Usage pattern:
[paths/roads/lines/people] diverge (at/from [place])
Common mistake:
In this meaning, *diverge* is usually intransitive (you don’t ‘diverge something’).
Synonyms
branch (Emphasizes forming a new branch.)
|
split (More informal and more sudden.)
|
separate (More general; less image of branching.)
Antonyms
converge (Come together toward one point.)
|
meet (Come together at a place.)
Collocations
roads diverge
|paths diverge
|lines diverge
|diverge at a junction
|diverge from a point
|diverge into branches
|begin to diverge
|diverge slightly
|diverge north and south
|diverge from the river
Themes
travel
|places
|daily_life
Examples
- The trail diverges after the bridge, with one branch climbing steeply.
- Two blue lines diverge from the center of the diagram.
- At the roundabout, the main road diverges into three smaller roads.
Learner examples
- The two roads diverge here.
- The paths diverge after the lake.
Verb
formal
C1
action
3
move away from a usual course
If you diverge from something, you stop following it and go in a different direction.
Usage pattern:
diverge from [plan/standard/topic]
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse *diverge from* (move away) with *differ from* (be different).
Synonyms
deviate (Very close; often suggests a noticeable departure from a rule or norm.)
|
stray (Often suggests doing it unintentionally.)
|
depart (More formal; commonly used with 'from'.)
Antonyms
follow (Continue according to a plan or rule.)
|
stick to (Keep closely to a plan or topic.)
Collocations
diverge from the plan
|diverge from the norm
|diverge from the standard
|diverge from the agenda
|diverge from the topic
|diverge from guidelines
|diverge from tradition
|diverge from expectations
|diverge from policy
|diverge from procedure
Themes
business
|education
|communication
Examples
- Let’s not diverge from the agenda—there’s a lot to cover.
- The new design diverges from the company’s usual style.
- During the interview, she repeatedly diverged from the question.
Learner examples
- Please don’t diverge from the topic.
- We diverged from the plan.
Verb
technical
C1
process
4
spread out from a point
If rays diverge, they spread out as they move.
Usage pattern:
[rays/beams] diverge (from [point])
Synonyms
spread (More general and less technical.)
|
fan out (More visual and informal.)
Antonyms
converge (Move toward each other or meet at a focus.)
Collocations
light rays diverge
|beam diverges
|diverge from a point
|diverge rapidly
|diverge outward
|diverging rays
|diverging beam
|diverge after passing through
|diverge at an angle
|diverge from the source
Themes
science
|technology
Examples
- After the lens, the light rays diverge and the image becomes blurry.
- The laser beam diverges slightly as it travels through the air.
- Particles diverged from the collision point in all directions.
Learner examples
- The rays diverge from the center.
- The beam diverges as it travels.
Verb
technical
C1
state
5
fail to approach a limit
A series diverges if it does not converge to a number.
Usage pattern:
[series/sequence/integral] diverges
Synonyms
fail to converge (Direct paraphrase; less technical-sounding.)
Antonyms
converge (Approach a finite limit.)
Collocations
the series diverges
|sequence diverges
|integral diverges
|diverge to infinity
|diverge without bound
|diverge for all values
|diverges as n increases
|diverges when
|prove it diverges
|diverge vs converge
Themes
math
|education
Examples
- The harmonic series diverges even though its terms go to zero.
- This sequence diverges to infinity as n increases.
- We showed the integral diverges near zero.
Learner examples
- The series diverges.
- This sequence does not converge; it diverges.
Verb
technical
C1
process
6
develop into different forms or species
Species diverge when they become more different over time.
Usage pattern:
[species/populations/traits] diverge (from [ancestor/population])
Synonyms
differentiate (Highlights developing distinct features.)
|
split (Less formal; often used with 'into' for speciation.)
Antonyms
converge (Become more similar (e.g., convergent traits).)
Collocations
species diverge
|populations diverge
|diverge from a common ancestor
|genetically diverge
|diverge over time
|begin to diverge
|diverge rapidly
|diverge into separate species
|diverge in isolation
|diverge evolutionarily
Themes
science
|biology
Examples
- The two populations diverged genetically after the river changed course.
- Over millions of years, these lineages diverged from a common ancestor.
- Researchers found the species diverged in response to different climates.
Learner examples
- The species diverged over time.
- They diverged from a common ancestor.
Grammar
Dictionary form
diverge
IPA
GB/dɪvˈɚd͡ʒ/
US/dɪvˈɚd͡ʒ/
Syllables & stress
di - verge (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (verge)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: diverge
- 3rd Person Singular: diverges
- Present Participle: diverging
- Past: diverged
Word family
Forms
diverges
verb
diverging
verb
diverged
verb
Core family
divergence
noun C1
divergent
adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
divergently
adverb
Expressions
diverge from
1/dɪvˈɚd͡ʒ fɹˈʌm/
phrasal verb
formal
be different from something
If something diverges from another thing, it is different from it.
Examples
- The final figures diverged from the early estimates.
- His explanation diverges from the evidence in several places.
- The new policy diverges from last year’s approach.
diverge from
2/dɪvˈɚd͡ʒ fɹˈʌm/
phrasal verb
formal
stop following a plan or topic
If you diverge from something, you do not continue with it.
Examples
- We shouldn’t diverge from the plan without discussing it first.
- The discussion diverged from the original question.
- After the tunnel, the path diverges from the river.
diverge into
1/dɪvˈɚd͡ʒ ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
split into different branches
If something diverges into parts, it splits into different parts.
Examples
- The highway diverges into two toll roads just outside the city.
- The stream diverges into several narrow channels in the wetland.
- The plot diverges into three separate storylines.
diverge on
1/dɪvˈɚd͡ʒ ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
formal
disagree about a specific issue
If people diverge on something, they disagree about it.
Examples
- The parties diverge on how to fund the program.
- Scientists diverge on the best explanation for the results.
- They agree on goals but diverge on methods.