1
a
: at a little distance
tried to keep apart from the family squabbles
b
: away from one another in space or time
towns 20 miles apart
2
a
: as a separate unit : independently
Viewed apart, his arguments were unsound.
b
: so as to separate one from another
I found it hard to tell the twins apart.
3
: excluded from consideration : aside
A few blemishes apart, the novel is excellent.
4
: in or into two or more parts : to pieces
coming apart at the seams
see also take apart
Synonyms
Examples of apart in a Sentence
Adverb
He stood with his feet planted far apart.
He stood apart while the other members of the team celebrated.
Their children were born two years apart.
My wife and I are unhappy when we're apart.
They separated and have been living apart for the past year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024
Though The Beatles worked things out soon after, the band fell apart within the year after Lennon quit.
—Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
The sub ultimately broke apart during this process.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
My original bag quickly started falling apart, ripping at the seams, and losing its shape.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2024
But over the course of the next year, the case against him fell apart.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Toward the end of its run, employees began to notice that the beams holding the roof up began to move further apart.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Both airports are in the San Francisco Bay Area, and about 30 miles apart by vehicle.
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Similar to Omar’s Infinity House in Los Angeles, The Dragon has a double-height entryway accented by vertical wooden panels, but the darker, moodier exterior featuring matte-black metal panels, a box-gable roof, and a meandering layout sets it squarely apart.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
Elise Cutts, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Sep. 2023
How much longer are we supposed to have these set apart programs for Black people?
—Abc News, ABC News, 30 June 2023
Clearwater officials, aware of the spending concerns roiling Tamarac, value that Cernech refused to pick apart coverage by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, which has run stories revealing how city commissioners gave themselves lucrative perks and benefits.
—Lisa J. Huriash, sun-sentinel.com, 25 May 2021
Could the dark energy that’s accelerating the expansion of the universe eventually rend apart spacetime?
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 22 Feb. 2023
Redistricting efforts is intended to create similar-sized regions for Washington’s representatives while also splitting apart cities, counties and related communities as little as possible.
—Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 28 July 2021
Montgomery was pleased with the diversity of the attack, but felt his charges weren’t picking apart teams like earlier in the season.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Dec. 2022
There are literally dozens of generations over which recombination could break apart association.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2011
James is an unstoppable freight train who plays downhill and picks apart defenses with his brain and brawn.
—Chris Fedor, cleveland, 17 Dec. 2022
Adverb
When things fall apart, there’s space for the new and an urgent opportunity to rebuild.
—Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024
Though The Beatles worked things out soon after, the band fell apart within the year after Lennon quit.
—Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
The sub ultimately broke apart during this process.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
My original bag quickly started falling apart, ripping at the seams, and losing its shape.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2024
But over the course of the next year, the case against him fell apart.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Toward the end of its run, employees began to notice that the beams holding the roof up began to move further apart.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Both airports are in the San Francisco Bay Area, and about 30 miles apart by vehicle.
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Similar to Omar’s Infinity House in Los Angeles, The Dragon has a double-height entryway accented by vertical wooden panels, but the darker, moodier exterior featuring matte-black metal panels, a box-gable roof, and a meandering layout sets it squarely apart.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
Adjective
But oxygen can arise from other processes: Sunlight could break apart water in the planet’s atmosphere, for example.
—Elise Cutts, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Sep. 2023
How much longer are we supposed to have these set apart programs for Black people?
—Abc News, ABC News, 30 June 2023
Clearwater officials, aware of the spending concerns roiling Tamarac, value that Cernech refused to pick apart coverage by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, which has run stories revealing how city commissioners gave themselves lucrative perks and benefits.
—Lisa J. Huriash, sun-sentinel.com, 25 May 2021
Could the dark energy that’s accelerating the expansion of the universe eventually rend apart spacetime?
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 22 Feb. 2023
Redistricting efforts is intended to create similar-sized regions for Washington’s representatives while also splitting apart cities, counties and related communities as little as possible.
—Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 28 July 2021
Montgomery was pleased with the diversity of the attack, but felt his charges weren’t picking apart teams like earlier in the season.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Dec. 2022
There are literally dozens of generations over which recombination could break apart association.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2011
James is an unstoppable freight train who plays downhill and picks apart defenses with his brain and brawn.
—Chris Fedor, cleveland, 17 Dec. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'apart.' 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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Dictionary Entries Near apart
Cite this Entry
“Apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apart. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
apart
1 of 2 adverb1
: away from each other
five miles apart
2
: as something separate
viewed apart from the other
3
: in or into two or more parts
took the clock apart
4
: one from another
can't tell the twins apart
apart
2 of 2 adjective
: separate from others
in a place apart
apartness
noun
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