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
Dino Grandoni and Melina Mara, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2023
While the pair initially put on a united front, their relationship was falling apart at the seams.
—Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2023
Meanwhile, what should have been a fairly prescribed process to fund the government after McCarthy and Mr. Biden negotiated a more than $1 trillion deal earlier this summer over the debt limit appears to be falling apart.
—CBS News, 11 Sep. 2023
Then their housing fell apart: they were supposed to move into a rental apartment in a Brooklyn brownstone, but the building was sold to new owners who rescinded the agreement—a development that seems to have crushed them.
—Jennifer Egan, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
This appeals to the man’s monstrous, third-person ego, but when that encounter also falls apart, Judith will try and try again, sometimes getting oh so close, sometimes getting nowhere.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 10 Sep. 2023
Learning to tell them apart is key for diagnosis and treatment, which can help your child feel better, faster.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 10 Sep. 2023
Another sharp-eyed observer, Thoreau lived a life apart.
—Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Sep. 2023
The two cases — charged in November 2021 and May 2023 — involve a different 7-year-old girl about 15 years apart.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023
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
Some districts, like 8-6A and 9-6A, have fewer than a 20-mile difference between the league’s two farthest-apart schools.
—Dallas News, 12 Dec. 2022
See More
Adverb
Usually the neediest of the bunch, Otter 936 showed its mettle, grabbing a crab, resting it on its stomach and twirling around while tearing it apart.
—Dino Grandoni and Melina Mara, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2023
While the pair initially put on a united front, their relationship was falling apart at the seams.
—Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2023
Meanwhile, what should have been a fairly prescribed process to fund the government after McCarthy and Mr. Biden negotiated a more than $1 trillion deal earlier this summer over the debt limit appears to be falling apart.
—CBS News, 11 Sep. 2023
Then their housing fell apart: they were supposed to move into a rental apartment in a Brooklyn brownstone, but the building was sold to new owners who rescinded the agreement—a development that seems to have crushed them.
—Jennifer Egan, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
This appeals to the man’s monstrous, third-person ego, but when that encounter also falls apart, Judith will try and try again, sometimes getting oh so close, sometimes getting nowhere.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 10 Sep. 2023
Learning to tell them apart is key for diagnosis and treatment, which can help your child feel better, faster.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 10 Sep. 2023
Another sharp-eyed observer, Thoreau lived a life apart.
—Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Sep. 2023
The two cases — charged in November 2021 and May 2023 — involve a different 7-year-old girl about 15 years apart.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023
Adjective
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
Some districts, like 8-6A and 9-6A, have fewer than a 20-mile difference between the league’s two farthest-apart schools.
—Dallas News, 12 Dec. 2022
See More
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.
Word History
Etymology
Adverb
Middle English, from Anglo-French a part, literally, to one side
Adjective
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of apart was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing apart
Articles Related to apart
Dictionary Entries Near apart
Cite this Entry
“Apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apart. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
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Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on apart
Nglish: Translation of apart for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of apart for Arabic Speakers
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