depart

verb

de·​part di-ˈpärt 

dē-

departed; departing; departs

intransitive verb

1

a

: to go away : leave

The flight departed on time.

b

formal : die

My aunt departed this life [=my aunt died] at the age of 92.

c

: to leave a job or position

departed after 20 years as manager

2

a

: to turn aside : deviate

The river departs from its usual course downstream.

b

: to change something or do something in a different way

The actors were not allowed to depart from the script.

transitive verb

: to go away from : leave

The train is about to depart the station.

Synonyms of depart

• exit
• move
• go
• get
• start
• flee
• quit
• evacuate

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

Founders and designers Dean and Dan Caten had been leading the company since the exit in February 2024 of general manager Ennio Fontana, who departed after less than a year in the role. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Offensive tackle Tyler Guyton (back) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (quad) were also present at practice after departing in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to the Buccaneers. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026

At the root of these changes is Dhillon's vision of the Civil Rights Division and its mission that dramatically departs from tradition. — Ryan Lucas, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Uganda’s health ministry said the man spent fewer than 24 hours in the country and had a normal temperature when screened before departing Entebbe International Airport, near Kampala. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

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

Phrases Containing depart

• depart this life

Rhymes for depart

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

Kids Definition

depart

verb

de·​part di-ˈpärt 

1

a

: to go away or go away from : leave

b

: die entry 1 sense 1

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 levels

—Koon v. United States, 518 U.S. 81 (1996)