apart

1 of 2

adverb

1
a
: at a little distance
tried to keep apart from the family squabbles
b
: away from one another in space or time
towns 20 miles apart
2
a
: as a separate unit : independently
Viewed apart, his arguments were unsound.
b
: so as to separate one from another
I found it hard to tell the twins apart.
3
: excluded from consideration : aside
A few blemishes apart, the novel is excellent.
4
: in or into two or more parts : to pieces
coming apart at the seams
see also take apart

apart

2 of 2

adjective

1
: separate, isolated
Those athletes are a breed apart.
2
: holding different opinions : divided
The councilors are still apart.
apartness noun

Examples of apart in a Sentence

Adverb He stood with his feet planted far apart. He stood apart while the other members of the team celebrated. Their children were born two years apart. My wife and I are unhappy when we're apart. They separated and have been living apart for the past year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb
And historically, this is where things have begun to fall apart. Dell Cameron, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2024 For publicly vague reasons, the plan overseen by then-Mayor Kevin Faulconer fell apart. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 But after that relationship fell apart, Zack and Bliss reunited in Seattle, ultimately getting engaged on a boat (and fully knowing what the other looked like). Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2024 There’s no word on whether either of those companies would be game to re-up their bids, though the app’s price tag has almost certainly gone up by several billion dollars since their 2020 effort fell apart. Allison Morrow, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 There’s the date of inspiration or inception, and then there’s the date of recording that could be decades apart. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2024 Over the course of a single summer, the pair fall madly in love only to be forced apart when Allie’s disapproving parents end their trip early. EW.com, 14 Mar. 2024 The diversity of Walker's Point is one of the things that sets it apart. Jessica Rodriguez, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 The location of the hotel also sets it apart: rather than add to the busy Palm Jumeirah or Jumeira waterfront, The Lana opened on Marasi Bay Marina in Business Bay. Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024
Adjective
But oxygen can arise from other processes: Sunlight could break apart water in the planet’s atmosphere, for example. Elise Cutts, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Sep. 2023 How much longer are we supposed to have these set apart programs for Black people? Abc News, ABC News, 30 June 2023 Clearwater officials, aware of the spending concerns roiling Tamarac, value that Cernech refused to pick apart coverage by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, which has run stories revealing how city commissioners gave themselves lucrative perks and benefits. Lisa J. Huriash, sun-sentinel.com, 25 May 2021 Could the dark energy that’s accelerating the expansion of the universe eventually rend apart spacetime? Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 22 Feb. 2023 Redistricting efforts is intended to create similar-sized regions for Washington’s representatives while also splitting apart cities, counties and related communities as little as possible. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 28 July 2021 Montgomery was pleased with the diversity of the attack, but felt his charges weren’t picking apart teams like earlier in the season. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Dec. 2022 There are literally dozens of generations over which recombination could break apart association. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2011 James is an unstoppable freight train who plays downhill and picks apart defenses with his brain and brawn. Chris Fedor, cleveland, 17 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'apart.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Anglo-French a part, literally, to one side

Adjective

derivative of apart entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of apart was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near apart

Cite this Entry

“Apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apart. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

apart

1 of 2 adverb
1
: away from each other
five miles apart
2
: as something separate
viewed apart from the other
3
: in or into two or more parts
took the clock apart
4
: one from another
can't tell the twins apart

apart

2 of 2 adjective
: separate from others
in a place apart
apartness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on apart

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