Do you know the definition of I digress? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the term I digress, including its definition, usage, etymology, example sentences, and more!

What does the phrase I digress mean?

According to Merriam-Webster Unabridged English Dictionary and Dictionary, the term I digress (verb; dī-grĕs) is used when someone is digressing from the certain main topic or course of argument that they are speaking or writing on and is trying to get back on track. The word digress means to veer off course of the main subject of attention or course of a certain argument. If you find yourself becoming sidetracked from the original topic, you can say, “but I digress,” and return to the subject at hand. Try using this word of the day or other new words in a sentence today!

There are many other languages that contain words meaning digress. You might notice that many of these words look and sound similarly to one another. These are called cognates, which are words and phrases that mean the same thing as well as look and sound similar across languages. This often happens when the two words or languages share a common Greek or Latin root or language of origin like Latin or Greek. This list of translations for the word digress is provided by Word Sense.

Dutch: afdwalen‎
Bulgarian: отклонявам се‎
Spanish: desviarse‎
Czech: odbíhat‎
Portuguese: divagar‎
Finnish: eksyä‎ (aiheesta), poiketa‎ (aiheesta)
Romanian: devia‎
French: s’écarter‎, dévier‎
Catalan: desviar-se‎
Cyrillic: застранити‎, одступити‎, скренути‎
Maori: kāwekaweka‎
Italian: divagare‎
Roman: zastraniti‎, odstupiti‎, skrenuti‎
Slovene: kreniti vstran‎, oddaljiti se‎ (pf)
Scottish Gaelic: rach a thaobh‎
Russian: отклоня́ться‎, отвлекаться‎
German: abgehen‎, abschweifen‎, ausschweifen‎

What are synonyms and antonyms for the word digress?

There are many different words and phrases that someone can use in place of the word digress. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same meaning as another word or phrase. Synonyms are a useful English grammatical device to know. They are an easy way to build your vocabulary, and can help you avoid repeating yourself in conversation and written works. This list of synonyms for the word digress is provided by Thesaurus.

aberrate
ramble
break pattern
wander
go by way of
stray
roam
be diffuse
contrast
drift
go off on tangent
veer
swerve
get off the subject
differ
diverge
take a turn
bend
depart
circumlocute
swim against stream
err
get around
not conform
go out of way
go out of control
deviate
go haywire
go amiss
beat about the bush
long way
leave beaten path
go off on a tangent
meander
angle off
excurse
vary
bend the rules
edge off
bear off
circumlocate
get off the point
avert
part
divagate
turn aside
deflect
wander away
shy
get sidetracked
depart from
turn

There are also numerous different words that have the opposite definition as the word digress. These are called antonyms. Antonyms are also useful to know if you are working on expanding your vocabulary. This list of antonyms for the word digress is also provided by Thesaurus.

hang out
prolong
remain
maintain
run on
pause
reach
sit tight
abide
make headway
respite
persist in
keep on
delay
live on
perdure
carry on
hang around
endure
sustain
halt
carry forward
push on
project
forge ahead
settle
keep up
bide
hang about
pursue
procrastinate
move ahead
stop
persevere
stay put
stick at
hold the fort
draw out
sweat it out
sojourn
persist
keep at
squat
stay
uphold
loiter
stand
go on
advance
tarry
outlast
establish oneself
stay out
get on with it
nest
promote
reside
rest
last
outstay
press on
stick to
lengthen
keep on truckin’
put down roots
linger
reprieve
extend
stick around
outlive
perch
bunk
continue
stay on
dally
keep the ball rolling
survive
hang in
lag
progress
ride
hang
never cease
hover
roost
sweat

How can the term I digress be used in a sentence?

The term I digress can be used if you are talking about a certain topic that has strayed away from the main course of the discussion. In this example, Ryan and Lily are in high school and are supposed to be studying. Instead, they are talking about frogs.

Ryan: When I was a kid I would go out frog catching like every week!

Lily: No way, me too! It’s like the best part of my childhood.

Ryan: Same… But I digress. I guess we should probably get back to studying.

Lily: I unfortunately agree.

Here, Ryan says, “I digress,” to get back on the topic of studying.

What is the origin of the word digress?

According to Etymonline, the word digress has been used since the 1520s to mean to turn away in speaking or writing from a certain course. This word comes from the Latin digressus, which is the past participle of digredi meaning to go aside or deviate from. This comes from the prefix dis meaning apart or aside and the root gradi meaning to step or go. This comes from the Proto-Indo-European root gredh meaning to walk to go. This could also be a back-formation from the noun digression. Related words include digresses, digressed and digressing.

Overall, the phrase I digress is used when someone is veering off course of the topic or argument at hand and they are trying to get back on hand. The word digress means to turn away from a certain argument or course in speaking or writing. The word digress is Latin in origin.

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Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.