Word
digress
Phoneticsdi·gress, stress on the second syllable
US/daɪˈɡɹɛs/
UK/daɪɡɹˈɛs/
Definition
v. to move away from the main topic of a conversation or a piece of writing. You do this when you start talking about something else instead of staying on track.
v. to move or cause to move away from a course, subject, or direction. Often used to describe a speaker or writer who strays from the main point of their argument.
Examples
“The speaker began to digress and talked about his childhood.”
“The lawyer was warned by the judge not to digress into personal matters during the cross-examination.”
“While the author occasionally digresses into historical anecdotes, the central thesis of the book remains focused on the economic shifts of the nineteenth century.”
Examples
simple
“The speaker began to digress and talked about his childhood.”
contextual
“The lawyer was warned by the judge not to digress into personal matters during the cross-examination.”
complex
“While the author occasionally digresses into historical anecdotes, the central thesis of the book remains focused on the economic shifts of the nineteenth century.”
Etymology
From Latin digressum, past participle of digredi.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/digress