sep·a·rate
ˈse-pə-ˌrāt
ˈse-ˌprāt
separated; separating
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
3
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
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
sep·a·rate
ˈse-p(ə-)rət
1
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
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
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
Verb
Simpson Street also executive produced the Sundance Audience and Festival Favorite Award-winning documentary Daughters, which focuses on young girls separated from their fathers by incarceration.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 14 June 2024
Trump case to separate ‘official acts’ from crimes Yale drama school grads Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph big winners at Golden Globes for ‘The Holdovers’
Dressing up for a big event in 2024?
—Hartford Courant, 13 June 2024
Adjective
Additionally, the two countries will be working on developing trade agreements that are separate from Western regulations.
—Washington Examiner Staff, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 June 2024
Look Back at the 'Lucky Day' the Actor Met Wife Keely 30 Years Ago
Keely, 60, shared her own tribute to the actor in a separate Instagram post.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 18 June 2024
Noun
Over the years since, the princess has used Trooping the Colour to showcase her sharp sartorial instincts, often returning to Alexander McQueen for separates and dresses befitting of the high-profile event.
—Vogue, 15 June 2024
Imagine having the guts to wear separates to your prom!
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for separate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'separate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Separate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/separate. Accessed 27 Jun. 2024.
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