1
: separated by an amount of space
He stood with his feet planted far/wide apart.
with legs apart
They live five miles apart (from each other).
The garage stands apart from the house. [=the garage is separate from the house]
He stood apart while the other members of the team celebrated.
They started fighting and it took four people to pull them apart (from each other). [=to separate them]
—often used figurativelyShe tried to keep apart from [=to stay out of] family arguments.
She has a quality that sets her apart from other singers. [=that makes her different from other singers]
They were close friends once, but they have drifted/grown apart. [=they are no longer close friends]
They are far apart on most issues. = They are worlds/poles apart on most issues. [=they disagree very much on most issues]
The neighborhood she lives in now is a world apart from [=is completely different from] the small town where she grew up.
2
: separated by an amount of time
Their children were born two years apart.
3
: not together
My wife and I are unhappy when we're apart.
They separated and have been living apart for the past year.
4
: into parts or pieces
He took the clock apart.
The old couch is falling apart. = The old couch is coming apart at the seams.
blast/blow/break/fly apart
cut/pry/pull apart
rip/tear/split apart
5
—used to say that something is not included in a statement that follows
A few minor flaws apart [=aside], the novel is excellent. [=except for a few minor flaws, the novel is excellent]
not used before a noun
: separate or different from others
in a place apart
a man apart
Those athletes are a breed apart. [=they are not like other people; they are a special type of people]
Cite this Entry
“Apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/apart. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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