separate

1 of 3

verb

sep·​a·​rate ˈse-pə-ˌrāt 

ˈse-ˌprāt

separated; separating

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 

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 

noun

separate

3 of 3

noun

sep·​a·​rate ˈse-p(ə-)rət 

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

• break up
• decouple
• disassociate
• disconnect
• disjoin
• disjoint
• dissever
• dissociate
• disunite
• divide
• divorce
• part
• ramify
• resolve
• sever
• split
• sunder
• uncouple
• unlink
• unyoke

Adjective

• different
• individual
• respective

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

On July 11 Brinkley's publicist announced the couple had separated. "She has been extremely concerned about the impact of this situation on her children and felt it was very important to protect them and take them away for a little bit," says one of Brinkley's close friends. "She is totally shocked and just devastated." —Ericka Souter et al., People, 31 July 2006

They described the process used to separate cream from milk.

A great distance separated the sisters from each other.

They walked together to the corner, but then they separated and went their separate ways.

The main group separated into several smaller groups.

Oil and water separate when combined together.

The oil separated from the water.

The salt crystals separated out of the liquid.

Adjective

Today, there are an estimated 30,000 teams playing travel ball, which is entirely separate from more long-standing youth organizations like Little League … —Sara Corbett, New York Times Sports Magazine, June 2006

On my last visit to Lucio, I went with a Spanish TV starlet whose sultry looks helped us land a prime table. Dining at separate tables around us were the Duchess of Badajoz, the king's sister; novelist Mario Vargas Llosa; and a gentleman rumored to be Spain's richest man. —Anya von Bremzen, Saveur, November 2006

A variation of these reactions is reflected in the American deaf community, which is divided into two groups. One rejects the notion that they are disabled. Rather, they claim, they are a separate culture with its own language. The second group defines its deafness as a disability and is more likely to assimilate into the able-bodied world. —Mary Grimley Mason, Working Against Odds, 2004

There are separate restrooms for men and women.

The boys have separate rooms.

They slept in separate beds.

We use the same Internet service provider but have separate accounts.

That's an entirely separate issue.

Noun

"Women have a very strong sense of what works for them," says Lyn Devon, the New York designer who sells a nuanced line of silk separates and tailored dresses from her SoHo studio. —Jane Herman, Vogue, June 2006

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Emotions cooled after that, but season 47 finished strong with the signature moment of Operation: Italy, followed by a stellar penultimate episode in which separating fact from fiction never appeared harder. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024

Entrepreneurs often face the daunting task of separating their emotional attachment to the business from its financial valuation. —Sara Khaki, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Six separate chapters are devoted to the basic blocking and tackling of effective university administration through adherence to the qualities of vision, openness, resilience, courage, passion and hope. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024

Dogs who are a bit more cautious and scared of high activity will probably enjoy a separate play area style, where dogs are divided into groups based on their personality and energy levels. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2024

Noun

This set looks polished when worn together, but is equally stylish when worn as separates — a huge plus for my versatile packing list. —Lauren Bonney, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024

Bold burgundy leather separates include a side-zip tank and a knee-length skirt with a back slit. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 1 Oct. 2024

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

Phrases Containing separate

• go separate ways
• separate off
• separate out
• separate the men from the boys
• separate the sheep from the goats
• separate the wheat from the chaff
• under separate cover

Kids Definition

separate

1 of 3 verb

sep·​a·​rate ˈsep-ə-ˌrāt 

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 

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 

: 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 

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 

separated; separating

transitive verb

: to cause the separation of

intransitive verb

: to undergo a separation

the couple separated last year

compare divorce