depart

verb

de·​part di-ˈpärt How to pronounce depart (audio)
dē-
departed; departing; departs

intransitive verb

1
a
: to go away : leave
b
: die
2
: to turn aside : deviate

transitive verb

: to go away from : leave
Choose the Right Synonym for depart

swerve, veer, deviate, depart, digress, diverge mean to turn aside from a straight course.

swerve may suggest a physical, mental, or moral turning away from a given course, often with abruptness.

swerved to avoid hitting the dog

veer implies a major change in direction.

at that point the path veers to the right

deviate implies a turning from a customary or prescribed course.

never deviated from her daily routine

depart suggests a deviation from a traditional or conventional course or type.

occasionally departs from his own guidelines

digress applies to a departing from the subject of one's discourse.

a professor prone to digress

diverge may equal depart but usually suggests a branching of a main path into two or more leading in different directions.

after school their paths diverged

Examples of depart in a Sentence

The group is scheduled to depart tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. Our flight departs at 6:15 a.m. The train departed the station on time. He is departing after 20 years with the company.
Recent Examples on the Web Kim departed for Russia late Sunday, joined by his foreign minister and senior military officials, North Korea’s official Korea Central News Agency said. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023 The North Korean leader departed the capital, Pyongyang, on Sunday afternoon in a private train, accompanied by top officials, North Korean state media KCNA confirmed on Tuesday morning local time. Jake Kwon, CNN, 11 Sep. 2023 After Ewers departed — and for all intents and purposes, the experience more closely resembled a decommitment than a transfer — OSU found Devin Brown. Nathan Baird, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2023 Lucas departed to begin the second half after struggling with a sore knee that has bothered him since training camp. Bob Condotta, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2023 The refugees, the suicides, the disabled, the unsheltered, the traumatized, the ones who have departed this reality. Viet Thanh Nguyen, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2023 The credits may be used toward sailings departing within a year. Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023 The Woburn principal at the time of the attack, Jessica Callanan, later departed for Reading Memorial High School. Bob Hohler, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2023 Soon after their explosive night together, Shekinah was due to depart from Turkey and return to Los Angeles — which Sarper assumed would put an end to their romance. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'depart.' 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

Middle English, to divide, part company, from Anglo-French departir, from de- + partir to divide, from Latin partire, from part-, pars part

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of depart was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near depart

Cite this Entry

“Depart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depart. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

depart

verb
de·​part di-ˈpärt How to pronounce depart (audio)
1
a
: to go away or go away from : leave
2
: to turn aside : deviate

Legal Definition

depart

intransitive verb
de·​part
: to fail to follow : deviate from a course or standard
rather than sentencing petitioners to a term within the Guideline range, however, the District Court departed downward eight levelsKoon v. United States, 518 U.S. 81 (1996)

More from Merriam-Webster on depart

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