Word
derail
Meanings
To cause a train to leave the tracks.
To interrupt or spoil a plan, process, or conversation so it cannot continue as intended.
Definition
To derail means to cause a train to leave its tracks or to disrupt a plan so it cannot continue normally.
Derail can mean to make a train come off its tracks, often by accident. More commonly in everyday English, it means to interrupt or ruin a plan, discussion, or project so it goes off course. It suggests a loss of control or direction. It is often used in both active and passive forms.
Examples
- A fallen tree could derail the train if it lands on the tracks.
- One rude comment managed to derail the whole discussion.
- We can’t let small problems derail the project.
- She apologized for trying to derail the meeting with unrelated questions.
Common mistake
Learners often misspell it as "derailled" instead of the correct past tense "derailed."
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.