As a writer, it can be challenging to talk about one topic for a long time without deviating from the main subject. The same happens in many aspects of life; you need to plan and have the discipline to be on the right track on what you are writing or dealing with. The English word that describes the deviation scenario is “digress.”
The definition of “digress” is “a temporary departure from the main subject you are talking about. The “digress” can be intentional or unintentional, depending on what you are writing or saying. Use the word in sentences to show straying, turning away, diverging or going off from the main subject.
The word “digress” is one of those words that will pop up once in a while. The word refers to people who have been talking for a long time and are no longer on the intended topic. This article will explain more about “digress definition, meaning and usage.”
What Is the Definition of Digress?
The definition of “digress” is “to get off-topic.” It is the type of word you would use when you are giving a speech or talking, and then you realize after some time that you have been talking about something off-topic. You might also use this word as an excuse to get off-topic.
Example sentences:
- I do not wish to digress from the topic of the day, but I have an important reminder to point out.
- You should know that the math teacher would not allow her students to digress.
- He made his speech for an hour, and he did not digress from the subject.
What Are the Family Words of “Digress?”
Different words have different forms, known as family words. It is vital to learn how to use them correctly in a sentence. Here are the two main family words of “digress.”
- Digression (noun): Digressions mean to depart from the subject, course, or idea at hand.
Example sentences:
- The manager would sometimes take digression during the weekly meetings and talk about his success instead of improving sales.
- I did not realize I had made a digression and went off-topic during my radio interview.
- Digressively (adverb): The meaning of digressively is “tend to depart from the main topic or cover a wide range of subjects.”
Example sentences:
- You can walk to the market slowly and digressively, but it takes a while.
- It was not my plan to digressively mention my story when I was awarding the athletes.
- When I asked him why he was crying, he spoke digressively, and I didn’t understand anything.
Synonyms and Antonyms Of Digress and Their Meaning
The best way to express your thoughts in the English language is by learning the various synonyms and antonyms of a word. You will easily know which words you can place in your speech or writing. Here are the synonyms of the word “digress.”
- Tell: To let something become known.
- Wander: Wonder or move in an aimless way
- Stray: Not the right place, separated from the target or group.
- Divagate: To wonder or to stray
- Excurse: To pass through or make an excursion.
- Distract: Prevent someone from concentrating on something.
- Deviate: Depart from an establishment course.
- Deflect: Change direction after hitting something.
- Redirect Direct someone to a new place or purpose.
- Drift: To get carried slowly by the current air or water.
Antonyms
- Enter: Get into a place.
- Arrive: Reach a place at the end of a journey.
- Stay: Remain in the same place.
- Take office: To start a job or responsibility, especially in the government office.
- Came: To arrive or to come closer.
- Concentrate: Put all your attention to a single activity or object.
- Stay: To remain in the same place, state, or position.
- Centralize: To bring to the center.
- Fixate: Cause someone to develop an obsessive attachment to someone or something.
Words That Rhyme With Digress
Many words have the same sound but are not from the same family; these words are known as rhyming words. The meaning also differs. Here is a look at the words that rhyme with “digress.”
- Transgress
- Simplest
- Repossess
- Compress
- Undress
- Request
- Success
- Nevertheless
- Distress
Are Digress And Swerve The Same?
The meaning of “digress” is to depart from the subject, and at times, this change might be voluntary. Swerve is when one makes an abrupt change and turns sideways. The change of side can be mental, moral, or spiritual.
Most people use these words interchangeably, and it is clear that their definition is not the same. Understanding the meaning and definition of these words will make it easier to know when to use each word.
What Is the Meaning of Digress?
The meaning of “digress” is the inability of someone to think coherently or to stick to the point. Some people have difficulty sticking to a certain point even if the situation does not permit one to change the topic. Such a situation is to “digress.”
Example sentences:
- The teacher was clear about the question, but Mark had to digress to make a joke.
- Leon said that he needed to digress for a moment to remind everyone about their bonuses.
- It is normal for kids to digress when away from their parents or guardians.
What Does “But I Digress” Mean?
The phrase “but I digress” is common, and you are likely to use it in the future. Learn about this phrase and why most people use it in their conversations. Using this phrase shows that you have realized you have gone off-topic and plan to return to the original question or state.
The one vital point to understand about the phrase “but I digress” is that the one using it is not pointing to the fact that they are no longer off-topic but rather expressing their intention to get back on track or the original topic.
Example sentence:
- I wanted to bake an apple pie. Don’t you just like how apples taste, especially the red apples, but I digress? Unfortunately, I did not make one because I did not have all the ingredients.
How to Use Digress In A Sentence?
The word “digress” is an intransitive verb, which means that it does not take a direct object and when using it in a sentence, take note of this point. It is also important to ensure that this word will fit in the part of speech that you embrace.
Sentences are the backbone of any language, so if you want to be a pro in the English language, it is vital to learn new words often and find out how they are used in a sentence.
10 Examples Of Digress In A Sentence
In this section, you will read ten examples of “digress” sentences to understand better how to use the word. Here we go!
- Everyone wanted the meeting to end so that they could go home, and that is why they were not happy when I expressed my need to digress for a moment.
- I will digress here to explain the difference between the two statements.
- He was at the absolute zenith of his career when he retired but I digress.
- At this moment, I should digress a bit and give you a forum to introduce your ideas of what you need for the homecoming party.
- I want to digress and discuss what happened last week so that everyone can understand the situation.
- Yes, I will give you time to digress for a few minutes before we discuss the meaning of epiphany.
- It seems like no one is interested in today’s lesson, so I will digress for the remaining time.
- My father hates it when someone narrates a story, and then they digress.
- Your essay was full of mistakes and digress, so I want you to redo it.
- I will digress here to explain the dangers of not saving for your retirement.
- We digress to look at some of the facts about trees.
How Do You Spell Digress?
The spelling of the word “digress” is “D.I.G.R.E.S.S.”
You need to learn the right spelling of this word. That way, you will not make a mistake that can embarrass you when you write it down or in your conversations.
How Do You Pronounce Digress?
The pronunciation of the word “digress” is “dia.gres.”
When pronouncing the word, you need to emphasize “d” and “g.” The good thing is “digress” is a straightforward word without any pronunciation challenge.
How Many Syllables Are In Digress?
The word “digress” has two syllables.
These syllables are divided as “di” and “gress.” The stressed syllable is “gress.”
History & Etymology of Digress
The word digress has a Latin origin, and it shares similar roots with the words like “aggressive,” “progress,” and “gradient.” Its root is digredi which translates to “step away.”
When Was Digress First Used?
The word “digress” was first used in 1500.
Conclusion
When using “digress,” understand the meaning and definition of the word to use it correctly. The best way to completely understand this word is by embracing what you have learned from the article and writing various relevant sentences. Keep practicing, and you’ll be happy to grasp everything about the word.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.