separate

1 of 3

verb

sep·​a·​rate ˈse-pə-ˌrāt How to pronounce separate (audio)
ˈse-ˌprāt
separated; separating
Synonyms of separatenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to set or keep apart : disconnect, sever
b
: to make a distinction between : discriminate, distinguish
separate religion from magic
c
: sort
separate mail
d
: to disperse in space or time : scatter
widely separated homesteads
2
archaic : to set aside for a special purpose : choose, dedicate
3
: to part by a legal separation:
a
: to sever conjugal ties with
b
: to sever contractual relations with : discharge
was separated from the army
4
: to block off : segregate
5
a
: to isolate from a mixture : extract
separate cream from milk
b
: to divide into constituent parts
6
: to dislocate (something, such as a shoulder) especially in sports

intransitive verb

1
: to become divided or detached
2
a
: to sever an association : withdraw
b
: to cease to live together as a married couple
3
: to go in different directions
4
: to become isolated from a mixture
the crystals separated out

separate

2 of 3

adjective

sep·​a·​rate ˈse-p(ə-)rət How to pronounce separate (audio)
1
a
: set or kept apart : detached
b
archaic : solitary, secluded
c
: immaterial, disembodied
2
a
: not shared with another : individual
separate rooms
b
often capitalized : estranged from a parent body
separate churches
3
a
: existing by itself : autonomous
a separate country
b
: dissimilar in nature or identity
consulted five separate authorities
separateness
ˈse-p(ə-)rət-nəs How to pronounce separate (audio)
noun

separate

3 of 3

noun

sep·​a·​rate ˈse-p(ə-)rət How to pronounce separate (audio)
1
: offprint
2
: an article of dress designed to be worn interchangeably with others to form various costume combinations
—usually used in plural

Synonyms

Verb

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for separate

Verb

separate, part, divide, sever, sunder, divorce mean to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed.

separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.

separated her personal life from her career

part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.

vowed never to part

divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.

civil war divided the nation

sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.

a severed limb

sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.

a city sundered by racial conflict

divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.

cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility

Adjective

distinct, separate, discrete mean not being each and every one the same.

distinct indicates that something is distinguished by the mind or eye as being apart or different from others.

two distinct versions

separate often stresses lack of connection or a difference in identity between two things.

separate rooms

discrete strongly emphasizes individuality and lack of connection.

broke the job down into discrete stages

Examples of separate in a Sentence

Verb Though mechanical grain cutters, called reapers, began appearing around 1800, it was with Cyrus H. McCormick's version that agriculture entered the industrial age. Older reapers simply cut and dropped grain; McCormick's cut, separated, and collected it, increasing production and, ultimately, positioning the American Midwest as the breadbasket to the world. — Saveur, June/July 2008
Xanthan gum, for instance … is used in bottled salad dressing to slow the settling of the spice particles and keep water and oil from separating. — Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 6 Nov. 2007
The fact is that Washington has relaxed financial regulations under both Democratic and Republican administrations, opening the doors to conflicts of interest between brokers and investment bankers. In 1998, government, despite concerns, refused to separate consulting and auditing business. — Jeff Madrick, New York Times Book Review, 29 Jan. 2006
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The nights following each new moon phase will see the line separating night from day on the lunar surface creep inexorably westward. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2025 What separates book club and your memories of school reading class is that it’s supposed to be fun. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Over the course of July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed three separate bills providing cryptocurrency regulations, and one of them, the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act), was signed into law by President Donald Trump. — Charles Lloyd Bovaird Ii, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025 In a separate look, the artist wore a custom bodysuit in a deep green hue. — Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
The designer’s separates which span womenswear and menswear, are a rallying cry for creativity by Caribbean talent. — Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 25 July 2025 Although this new amplifier is small, the build quality isn’t cut back like some half-width separates. — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for separate

Word History

Etymology

Verb, Adjective, and Noun

Middle English, from Latin separatus, past participle of separare, from se- apart + parare to prepare, procure — more at secede, pare

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of separate was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing separate

Rhymes for separate

See All Rhymes for separate

Browse Nearby Words

separata
separate
Separate Baptist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Separate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/separate. Accessed 13 Aug. 2025.

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Kids Definition

separate

1 of 3 verb
sep·​a·​rate ˈsep-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce separate (audio)
separated; separating
1
a
: to set or keep apart
separate the pages with a slip of paper
b
: to make a distinction between : distinguish
separate fact from fiction
c
: sort entry 2 sense 1
separate mail
d
: to spread widely in space or time : scatter
widely separated homesteads
2
: to end a relationship with that is bound by a contract
separated from the army
3
: to isolate or become isolated from a mixture
separate cream from milk
4
: to become divided or detached : come apart
5
: to cease to live together as a married couple
6
: to go in different directions

separate

2 of 3 adjective
sep·​a·​rate ˈsep-(ə-)rət How to pronounce separate (audio)
1
: set or kept apart
the motel contains fifty separate units
2
: not shared with another : individual
separate rooms
3
: having independent existence
the separate pieces of a puzzle
separately adverb
separateness noun

separate

3 of 3 noun
sep·​a·​rate ˈsep-(ə-)rət How to pronounce separate (audio)
: an article of dress designed to be worn interchangeably with others to form different outfits
—usually used in plural

Medical Definition

separate

verb
sep·​a·​rate ˈsep-(ə-)ˌrāt How to pronounce separate (audio)
separated; separating

transitive verb

1
: to isolate from a mixture : extract
2
: dislocate
separated his right shoulder

intransitive verb

: to become isolated from a mixture

Legal Definition

separate

verb
sep·​a·​rate ˈse-pə-ˌrāt How to pronounce separate (audio)
separated; separating

transitive verb

: to cause the separation of

intransitive verb

: to undergo a separation
the couple separated last year
compare divorce

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