apart

1 of 3

adverb

ə-ˈpärt 

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

apart

2 of 3

adjective

1

: separate, isolated

Those athletes are a breed apart.

2

: holding different opinions : divided

The councilors are still apart.

apartness noun

apartness

3 of 3

noun

apart·​ness

ə-ˈpärt-nəs

plural -es

: the quality or state of being apart : aloofness, isolation

our own … grandiose apartness and air of exclusive ease … threatened to defeat us

—W. H. Hale

Synonyms of apart

Adverb

• to pieces
• asunder

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

Adverb

The level of soccer wasn’t always high, but the elevation and drama were — two goals 98 seconds apart, two PKs, one red card, endless stoppage time, two nations holding their breaths. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026

Two communities, 100 miles apart, may be choosing different answers. — Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Adjective

Hold at the furthest apart position for a couple of seconds before slowly bringing your arms back to their starting position. — Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 7 July 2026

The hotter evening side appears warm enough to break apart water molecules in the upper atmosphere, the study notes. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Anglo-French a part, literally, to one side

Adjective and Noun

derivative of apart entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing apart

• a breed apart
• apart from
• apart from anything else
• a world apart
• a world apart from
• come apart
• come apart at the seams
• come/fall apart at the seams
• doors down/up/apart
• fall apart
• grow apart
• joking apart
• pick apart
• poles apart
• pull apart
• quite apart from
• rip apart
• set apart
• take apart
• tear apart
• tell apart
• worlds apart

Rhymes for apart

• depart
• flowchart
• forepart
• impart
• pushcart
• rampart
• redstart
• restart
• subpart
• sweetheart
• upstart
• art

Kids Definition

apart

1 of 2 adverb

ə-ˈpärt 

1

: 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