bifurcates

verb

present tense third-person singular of bifurcate
as in subdivides
formal to undergo division into two parts The stream bifurcated into two narrow winding channels.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bifurcates While designing the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain, in the 1990s, the architect would sit by the river that bifurcates the city, looking at different metal treatments. — Belinda Luscombe, Time, 6 Dec. 2025 For example, Highway 17 currently bifurcates a piece planners hope to lock in through Los Gatos. — San Francisco Chronicle, 30 July 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bifurcates
  1. divides
  2. separates
  3. splits
Verb
  • The king arbitrarily gives up his power and divides his kingdom among his children.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • There’s always at least one Love Island USA contestant who divides viewers, and for Season 8, that person was Melanie Moreno.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of divides
Verb
  • But halfway through the trip, an earthquake strikes, causing an avalanche that destroys their mountainside path, separates them from John and strands them 4,000 feet in the air.
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This resembles Sequoia Capital’s recent argument that AI separates intelligence from judgment.
    — Mark Lewis, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of separates
Verb
  • The design splits the building into four tenant spaces with onsite parking.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The map splits Kansas City into three Republican-leaning districts.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of splits

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Cite this Entry

“Bifurcates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bifurcates. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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