detach

1 of 2

verb

de·​tach di-ˈtach How to pronounce detach (audio)
dē-
detached; detaching; detaches
Synonyms of detachnext

transitive verb

1
: to separate especially from a larger mass and usually without violence or damage
2
: disengage, withdraw
detachability
di-ˌta-chə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce detach (audio)
dē-
noun
detachable
di-ˈta-chə-bəl How to pronounce detach (audio)
dē-
adjective
detachably
di-ˈta-chə-blē How to pronounce detach (audio)
dē-
adverb

detachable

2 of 2

adjective

de·​tach·​able
: capable of being or designed to be detached : capable of being separated or withdrawn without loss or damage
detachably
-blē How to pronounce detachable (audio)
-li
adverb

Examples of detach in a Sentence

Verb Detach the upper part of the form and return it with your payment. During the accident the trailer was detached from the car. The brush detaches from the vacuum cleaner for easy cleaning. It can be difficult to detach yourself from the chaos of the situation. She has been trying to detach herself from an abusive relationship.
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
Less than a day before the collapse, that planter detached from the pool deck. — ABC News, 22 June 2026 The part most easily detached from the song can still become an entry point to the rest of it. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026 These couplers are heavy, designed to be detached during the violent shaking of a launch. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026 Trump made no mention of Roosevelt having detached the retina of his left eye during one such sparring session. — Jack Dura, Fortune, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for detach

Word History

Etymology

Verb

French détacher, from Old French destachier, from des- de- + -tachier (as in atachier to attach)

First Known Use

Verb

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of detach was in 1686

Rhymes for detach

See All Rhymes for detach

Browse Nearby Words

det
detach
detachability
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Detach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detach. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

detach

verb
de·​tach di-ˈtach How to pronounce detach (audio)
: to separate especially from a larger mass and usually without violence or damage
detachable
-ˈtach-ə-bəl How to pronounce detach (audio)
adjective
detachably
-blē How to pronounce detach (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on detach

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for detach

Nglish: Translation of detach for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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