verb

digress

dy-GRESS/daɪˈɡres/

To move away from the main subject when speaking or writing.

The instructor digresses into a fishing story during the bicycle-repair lesson.

A bicycle-repair instructor briefly wanders into an animated fishing anecdote, then returns to the bicycle lesson.

Etymology

The pieces picture “stepping aside”: a speaker or writer leaves the main subject as though departing from a path. The verb may have been formed from digression.

In context

Montana HOSA11:11

I'm going to digress a little bit and touch on a question that I usually ask up front and I didn't this time because I totally forgot to.

Ophthalmology Interview

More examples

Please do not digress from the main question.
She often digresses when telling a story.
After digressing briefly, he returned to the evidence.

Forms

digress · digresses · digressed · digressing

digression noun — a departure from the main subject

Similar words

ramble: Ramble suggests loose, wandering speech; digress identifies a departure from the main subject.
deviate: Deviate is general departure; digress specifically concerns a line of discussion or thought.