separate 1 of 2

adjective

ˈse-p(ə-)rət How to pronounce separate (audio)
Definition of separatenext
1
as in different
not the same or shared we stayed in separate apartments on our vacation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in single
not physically attached to another unit the housing development has 200 separate homes, each with its own enclosed yard

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3
as in independent
not being under the rule or control of another the former Soviet republic is now a separate country

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in personal
of, relating to, or belonging to a single person the husband and wife each have separate interests

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

separate

2 of 2

verb

ˈse-pə-ˌrāt How to pronounce separate (audio)
1
as in to divide
to set or force apart we tried to separate the gluey pages, but they were stuck tight

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2
as in to part
to go or move in different directions from a central point the searchers separated in order to cover more ground

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3
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type separate the students by reading ability

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4
as in to isolate
to set or keep apart from others separated the injured calf from the herd

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5
as in to differentiate
to understand or point out the difference in trying to separate science from religion on one specific point

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6
as in to split
to cause (people) to break up into opposing groups The controversy separated the company's leadership into competing sides.

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word separate different from other adjectives like it?

The words discrete and distinct are common synonyms of separate. While all three words mean "not being each and every one the same," separate often stresses lack of connection or a difference in identity between two things.

separate rooms

When could discrete be used to replace separate?

Although the words discrete and separate have much in common, discrete strongly emphasizes individuality and lack of connection.

broke the job down into discrete stages

When would distinct be a good substitute for separate?

The meanings of distinct and separate largely overlap; however, distinct indicates that something is distinguished by the mind or eye as being apart or different from others.

two distinct versions

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of separate
Adjective
For the second year in a row, Baltic documentaries and feature films will compete in separate programs. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 In a separate report, Cobb Fendley identified more than 200 at-risk addresses. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
Officials declared success an hour later when the spacecraft separated as planned from the rocket's upper stage. — Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026 Designed by Bill Cass, the sneaker’s aggressive tooth-like upper paneling helped separate it from anything else on the diamond. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for separate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for separate
  1. different
  2. single
  3. independent
  4. personal
  5. divide
  6. part
  7. classify
  8. isolate
Adjective
  • Kwan’s push to expand the family office’s geographical footprint correlates with global wealth flows, as HNWIs worldwide look to diversify their assets across different geographies.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The result offers researchers a different way to approach quantum material design.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of different
Adjective
  • SpaceX shares jumped nearly 8% on Wednesday, their best single-session performance since August.
    — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The single-aisle jet, which can have up to 230 seats, was introduced at the Paris Air Show in 2017 to help Boeing compete with rival Airbus.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of single
Adjective
  • The maintenance requests have kept engine repair and overhaul facilities backed up, from those owned by manufacturing giants GE Aerospace and RTX unit Pratt & Whitney to smaller, independent ones.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • To pinpoint the exact moment of this turnaround, Young’s team used two independent dating methods.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of independent
Adjective
  • Hemsworth’s work has always spanned genres—just look at his omnivorous DJ sets—but Numbskull positions him as a more traditional songwriter, underscored by the album’s personal, earnest tone.
    — Mehan Jayasuriya, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The magnitude of the devastation is made personal for all of us.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of personal
Verb
  • Several aircraft could divide surveillance tasks or combine their efforts to improve coverage in a particular sector.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Depending on your opinion of him (the fandom is divided), this one might not be your favorite.
    — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of divide
Verb
  • Birds and mammals parted evolutionary ways more than 360 million years ago, and bird brains evolved a different architecture.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Light Obsession™ Nandina thrives in full sun to part shade or dappled sunlight, but the best foliage color occurs in full sun.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of part
Verb
  • In an April 2026 live-fire exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, the Army demonstrated an autonomous sensor on one platform that detected and classified a hostile drone, then passed data and an engagement command to a weapon system on another platform.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Trump also classified Brazil’s biggest drug-trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organizations shortly after receiving Bolsonaro at the White House — a move Lula’s administration opposed as a pretext for intervention.
    — Eléonore Hughes, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of classify
Verb
  • Justice Diana Kavedza Mochache said in a hearing lasting more than eight hours that in some cases children were isolated and denied food while their parents watched.
    — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Analyzing them together helps cancel some random variations and isolate the underlying physics.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of isolate

Browse Nearby Words

separable
separate
separated
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Cite this Entry

“Separate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/separate. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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