part 1 of 3

part

2 of 3

adverb

part

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to separate
to go or move in different directions from a central point after traveling together for three weeks, we parted at Rome

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4

Synonym Chooser

How is the word part distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of part are division, fragment, member, piece, portion, section, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

In what contexts can division take the place of part?

The meanings of division and part largely overlap; however, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When might fragment be a better fit than part?

The words fragment and part are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When could member be used to replace part?

While in some cases nearly identical to part, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When would piece be a good substitute for part?

Although the words piece and part have much in common, piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

Where would portion be a reasonable alternative to part?

The synonyms portion and part are sometimes interchangeable, but portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When is section a more appropriate choice than part?

While the synonyms section and part are close in meaning, section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

When is it sensible to use segment instead of part?

In some situations, the words segment and part are roughly equivalent. However, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

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 part
Noun
Brock Media joins a group of topnotch U.K. producers that are part of Studiocanal. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025 Many viewers will receive the service for free as part of their subscription to cable, satellite and most streaming services. Joe Reedy, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2025
Adverb
François Girard’s take — part mysterious, part mystifying — on Wagner’s last opera is one of the Met’s most interesting productions of the last decade or so, and returns for the first time since its premiere in 2013. David Allen, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2018
Verb
The clouds truly began to part, however, when Antony and Josephine gave Baser some advice that would go on to change the course of her career. Sophie Williams, Billboard, 25 July 2025 Paves also styled Simpson’s hair later that night, parting her hair on the left side of her head and tucking it behind her ears. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for part
Recent Examples of Synonyms for part
Noun
  • This represents just a portion of the activities in the city, with countless businesses, tour operators and locals sponsoring their own activities ranging from concerts and tours to parties, food tastings and more.
    Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
  • This isn’t just some rustic detour on the Euro portion of this wine road trip.
    John Noakes, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The bachelorette party was going to take place on a cruise, and the bride needed Stevens to pay her share immediately after inviting her.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Overnight in Asia, shares have been rallying, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 hitting an all-time high and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Tech Index — home to some of China’s biggest tech firms — adding more than 2%.
    Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Their overall role is still small but significantly elevated when viewed as part of the non-carbon share.
    Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • The struggling reliever blew a save in Monday’s series-opener and has scuffled since the start of July, forcing Boone to consider alternatives for the closer’s role.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • With Hasan in Gaza is an aching witness to the beauty of this land and the struggle of its people, neither of which may soon be recognizable at all.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Grimsley, who oversees the Choctaw tribe’s drone efforts and the piece of land where companies come to test and fly, was one of the people involved in drafting the report the FAA ultimately used to write the rule, and has been following this closely over the last 20 years of his career.
    Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025
Adverb
  • Pike gestured to a few feet of curb near the entrance to an alley, about halfway down the 2100 block of North St. Louis Avenue.
    Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025
  • Most give up halfway, frightened by the warnings of those below.
    Sudhir Gupta, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The Jose Peralta School of Dreamers in Queens, and her mom were separated from her 19-year-old brother during an immigration check-in on Tuesday at 26 Federal Plaza, according to the family and their advocates.
    Cayla Bamberger, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Workers separated lockers from walls as part of their efforts to dry the floors, and put books and other soaked materials onto plastic tarps to dry.
    Cleo Krejci, jsonline.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Mederos had been more over the top, but the Angels moved his arm down about 10 degrees.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2025
  • If anyone shows signs of heat illness, promptly move them to a cool, shaded area.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • There may be more that unites the two groups than divides them.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
  • The preliminary plat shows the larger 61-acre parcel divided into three phases with a mix of retail uses and two apartment complexes.
    Laura Kinsler, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Part.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/part. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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