Digresses

The word 'digresses' means to deviate or wander away from the main topic or course of discussion or action. It implies a temporary departure from the subject at hand, often involving the introduction of an unrelated or tangential thought, story, or argument. This can occur in both spoken and written forms. The digression may be intentional, serving to provide context, add humor, or illustrate a point, or it may be unintentional, reflecting a speaker's or writer's tendency to lose focus. The duration of a digression can vary, from a brief aside to an extended detour. It's an act of diverging or veering off-course.

Digresses meaning with examples

• During the lecture, the professor digresses frequently, sharing anecdotes about his research trips. Although enjoyable, students struggled to retain the core information as the discussion meandered. The lecture was filled with interesting tangents that made it difficult to stay focused on the main themes. They found it hard to follow because the professor kept moving off the current subject.
• The author digresses in a novel by spending several chapters on a character's childhood backstory. While this provides deeper insight, it slows the narrative pace. The inclusion, however, was crucial to setting the stage for later events. The flashback offered compelling information, even though it felt like a different path altogether, to some extent.
• In her presentation, the speaker digresses to address a question from the audience, before quickly bringing the conversation back on course. They answered the question, adding further detail, and then were able to keep to the scheduled time. After the quick diversion to cater for questions, they returned to the original topic of discussion. This made the conversation much more fluid.
• The comedian frequently digresses, delivering improvised jokes and observations that enhance their performance. The audience enjoys the off-script humour, but this slows the progression to the pre-determined story arc. The unpredictable comments made the show more exciting to watch. It was a fun experience as the performer seemed to veer off course.