1
: of or relating to a part rather than the whole : not general or total
a partial solution
a partial payment
2
3
: markedly fond of someone or something
—used with to
partial to pizza
She's partial to tall men with blond hair.
Synonyms
Examples of partial in a Sentence
Adjective
These plants prefer full sun or partial shade.
The partial ban on immigration has been lifted.
His latest play was deemed only a partial success by the critics.
a partial eclipse of the sun
He wears a partial denture.
She suggested a partial solution to the problem.
A referee must not be partial toward either team.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lex Harvey, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
Joining the fray for at least partial ownership of the contracts is the public, nonprofit Jackie Robinson Foundation, launched in 1973 by Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson, to perpetuate the memory of her husband.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Jamie Carter, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
The journals’ reviewers wanted complete genome sequences, but the team had only partials.
—David Quammen, New York Times, 25 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for partial 
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Adjective
Two more partial skulls, one in New Zealand and one in Chile, later enabled scientists to confirm a brand-new species.
—Lex Harvey, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
Joining the fray for at least partial ownership of the contracts is the public, nonprofit Jackie Robinson Foundation, launched in 1973 by Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson, to perpetuate the memory of her husband.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
The next two solar eclipses are partials on March 29, 2025 (Europe, northern Asia, north and west Africa, North America, northern South America, the Atlantic and Arctic) and Sept. 21, 2025 (southern Australia, the Pacific, the Atlantic and Antarctica).
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
The journals’ reviewers wanted complete genome sequences, but the team had only partials.
—David Quammen, New York Times, 25 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for partial
Dictionary Entries Near partial
Cite this Entry
“Partial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/partial. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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