To deviate means to

• A. To stay on the established course
• B. To digress
• C. To follow standards strictly
• D. To ignore all rules

Answer: (B)

Deviate means to depart from a path, plan, or norm. When something deviates, it moves away from what was expected or established. That makes digress the best fit, since digress means to stray away from the main subject or topic. If a speaker begins talking about a side story or unrelated detail, they digress; they are deviating from the main point.

The other ideas describe staying on track or breaking rules more than departing from the intended path. Staying on the established course keeps to the plan, following standards strictly isn’t about moving away, and ignoring all rules goes beyond simply deviating.