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
The City of Boston has paid $150,000 as part of a settlement agreement with two Black men wrongfully accused in the 1989 murder of a white pregnant woman, Carol Stuart. Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 2025 The threat was uncovered as part of the Secret Service's normal work of protecting the president, his family and key administration officials, the source said. Tonya Simpson, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
Adverb
The enclosed chamber offers very good heat regulation with an extruder fan, a part-cooling fan, an auxiliary part-cooling fan, and a fan to regulate the chamber. PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2025 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
Brighton & Hove Albion are poised to name Jason Ayto as sporting director after parting company on Friday with technical director David Weir. Andy Naylor, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025 As if that weren’t enough, the clouds parted just enough to reveal a rainbow in the late afternoon sunlight. Stefanie Waldek, AFAR Media, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for part
Recent Examples of Synonyms for part
Noun
  • The halftime performer is often announced in the early portion of the regular NFL season, around September.
    Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Some portion of this expansion can be attributed to strong sales of the rugged, outdoorsy carmaker’s plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).
    Brett Berk, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The latest ruling for Google in the company's antitrust case will likely remove any overhang for Alphabet shares, Piper Sandler wrote Thursday.
    Sean Conlon, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Biglari, who had purchased a 7% stake in the chain in 2007, became the company’s third-largest shareholder, owning more shares than all of Steak ‘n Shake’s then executive officers and directors combined.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • All Americans deserve clarity and accountability regarding the full extent of DOGE's role and influence at the Department of Education.
    Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The first guest of the night was Jude Law, who was asked about how his roles have predicted the future in the past.
    Emily Longeretta, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The one-year moratorium could be lifted as soon as Planning Commission recommendations land before the council for final approval.
    Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Vehicle miles traveled is a measurement that looks at the total miles driven by all vehicles within a specific area, and was studied separately for each of the project’s land uses.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • The first disturbance, located about halfway between the Lesser Antilles and the Cabo Verde Islands, now has an 80% chance of development within the next seven days, according to the latest forecast.
    Daniel Peck, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
  • After a lifeless Eagles offense awoke with a third-quarter touchdown to pull within 26-14, Davis forced Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford out of bounds on a punt-forcing sack by chasing him halfway across the field.
    Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The women’s orchestra, separated from their fellow inmates in a special block, was required by their Nazi overseers to play jaunty marches every morning and evening so that other female prisoners kept in step as they were sent to work outside the camp.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The Tamsui River is a major waterway and estuary in northern Taiwan that flows into the Taiwan Strait, the channel separating Taiwan from mainland China.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Sacramento State, which was denied in a bid to move up to FBS over the summer, came back from an early deficit to beat Mercyhurst, with Damian Henderson II running for 98 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Trump has a long history of moving from one tactic to another, like an ape branching between trees.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In fact, a quick review of the central bank’s dot plot underscores just how divided the Fed Governors are on the question of whether to cut interest rates (and by how much) over the next 12 months.
    Paul Weinstein Jr, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The procession is escorted by 80 soldiers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, divided into four units and carrying the regimental flags of the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry Shane Croucher Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Part.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/part. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.

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