Defining the Verb Derail | Generated by AI
Question: What does “derail” mean?
Answer:
Derail has two main meanings:
1. Literal meaning (trains)
To derail means a train leaves the tracks accidentally.
- The train derailed due to a mechanical failure.
- Several cars derailed after hitting debris.
2. Figurative meaning (plans, discussions, progress)
To derail means to disrupt, throw off course, or prevent something from continuing normally.
- The argument derailed the meeting.
- Illness derailed his career.
- One question completely derailed the discussion.
Related forms
-
Derailment (noun): disruption
- The scandal caused a derailment of the project.
-
Derail someone/something (verb): stop progress
Synonyms (figurative)
- disrupt
- sidetrack
- throw off course
- interrupt
- ruin
Quick intuition
- train → leave track
- plan/discussion → leave original direction