divergence
/daɪˈvɜːdʒəns/ (bre, ipa) · /daɪˈvɜːrdʒəns/ (ame, ipa) · /də-ˈvər-jən(t)s dī-/ (ame, mw)
divergence — noun
- divergencesingular
- divergencesplural
1. The process by which two or more things grow increasingly different from each ot
The process by which two or more things grow increasingly different from each other over time, moving further apart in character, direction, or value.
Fatou studied how the divergence of the two bird species happened over millions of years.
divergence of + plural noun for things growing apart
The divergence between Priyanka's career path and her brother's surprised the whole family.
Engineers measured a sudden divergence in the beam's position from the planned alignment.
Hiroshi watched the slow divergence of the two boats as they drifted on the lake.
- separation
more neutral; can refer to a single event rather than a gradual process
- split
sharper and often irreversible; suggests a clean break rather than slow drifting
- gap
names the resulting distance, not the movement that created it
- convergence
the process of coming together or becoming more similar
用法筆記
Frequently paired with 'between' to name the two entities growing apart. Distinguish from sense 3 ('DEPARTURE FROM NORM'): here the focus is on two or more things moving away from EACH OTHER, not one thing straying from a fixed standard.
2. A gap or split between the opinions, beliefs, or positions held by different peo
A gap or split between the opinions, beliefs, or positions held by different people or groups, where their views no longer align and they see a question from incompatible angles.
A sharp divergence of opinion between Dmitri and his boss led to a tense meeting.
divergence of opinion — core collocation for this sense
The divergence in religious beliefs caused strain between Ingrid and her extended family.
Kwame noted the wide divergence between what the company promised and what it delivered.
There was a clear divergence among the committee members about how to spend the grant.
- disagreement
more direct and everyday; implies active opposition rather than a measured gap
- difference
more neutral and broad; covers any kind of dissimilarity, not only views
- rift
stronger and more emotional; suggests a relationship damaged by the split
用法筆記
Subject is usually a group, institution, or pair of parties. The divergence itself is the gap — not the act of arguing. More formal than 'disagreement' and often implies a measurable gap in views rather than a heated quarrel.
常見錯誤
3. A move away from an expected path, established pattern, or accepted way of doing
A move away from an expected path, established pattern, or accepted way of doing things — straying from a reference point that others follow or that was set in advance.
The inspector flagged a significant divergence from the safety regulations at the factory.
divergence from + standard/regulation — core pattern for this sense
Yara's experimental results showed a sharp divergence from what the textbook predicted.
Any divergence from the approved budget must be explained in writing to the finance team.
Mateo's teaching style was a refreshing divergence from the rigid methods used at the school.
- conformity
adherence to the expected standard or norm
- compliance
following rules or standards exactly
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'from' + the standard, norm, or expectation. Distinguish from sense 1 ('GROWING APART'): here one thing departs from a FIXED REFERENCE, whereas sense 1 involves two or more things moving apart from each other.
常見錯誤
4. The property of a sequence or infinite series whose terms do not approach any si
The property of a sequence or infinite series whose terms do not approach any single finite number, so the sum either grows without bound or oscillates indefinitely rather than settling on a limit.
The student proved the divergence of the harmonic series using a simple comparison test.
divergence of + [mathematical series name]
Chen demonstrated that the divergence of the infinite sum meant it had no finite value.
In her maths lecture, Amara explained why the divergence of certain sequences matters in physics.
Artem wrote the partial sums on the board to demonstrate the divergence of the sequence.
- divergency
technical synonym, less common even in mathematics
- convergence
the property of approaching a finite limit
用法筆記
Restricted to technical mathematical contexts. In everyday English, rephrase with 'does not approach a limit' or 'grows without bound' rather than using 'divergence.'