detach

1 of 2

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

detachable

2 of 2

adjective

de·​tach·​able

: capable of being or designed to be detached : capable of being separated or withdrawn without loss or damage

detachably

-blē 

-li

adverb

Examples of detach in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

The study hypothesized that the sickle was added before the body fully decomposed since no joints were detached or displaced, as archaeologists would expect if a grave were to be disturbed after the body became a skeleton. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

The Nuggets appear detached from reality, lacking a clear direction. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026

Several Kansas City suburbs have detached from the organization in recent years — and pulled their financial contributions — as KCATA struggled with route and workforce reduction and technical difficulties. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026

Her Olympic career, culminating in Tokyo gold, taught her to detach self-worth from results and remain present. — Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

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