detach

verb

de·​tach di-ˈtach 

dē-

detached; detaching; detaches

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 

dē-

noun

detachable

di-ˈta-chə-bəl 

dē-

adjective

detachably

di-ˈta-chə-blē 

dē-

adverb

Examples of detach in a Sentence

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

Cena went a bit too ‘method’ with his heel persona, becoming cold, mean, and detached to the audience that loved him. — Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Heritage Auctions shared pictures of Skywalker’s prop that sold on July 15, showing the character’s hand, which was detached from the wrist, holding on to the lightsaber. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026

Orion and the Artemis III crew will stay docked with Starship for about a day before detaching to begin preparations for their return to Earth. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 20 July 2026

With everyone else, she was detached, her behavior unimpeachable. — Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for detach

• attach
• bycatch
• despatch
• dispatch
• mismatch
• nuthatch
• potlatch
• bache
• batch
• brach
• catch
• hatch

Kids Definition

detach

verb

de·​tach di-ˈtach 

: to separate especially from a larger mass and usually without violence or damage

detachable

-ˈtach-ə-bəl 

adjective

detachably

-blē 

adverb