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 Parks and Recreation star, who was part of the sketch comedy show's cast from 2001 to 2008, reflected on SNL during a conversation with her former costar Will Forte on her podcast Good Hang. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 19 June 2025 This is part of the wider collaboration between BWPC and the league. Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 19 June 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 actress kept her makeup look natural with bold lashes, and wore her blonde hair parted down the middle in loose waves. Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025 Aina’s long blond hair was curled and parted to the side of her head. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for part
Recent Examples of Synonyms for part
Noun
  • Elam also shared portions of one of Lewis' final text messages to her.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 June 2025
  • German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, speaking alongside President Zelenskyy in Kyiv on June 12, said that the initial $4.6 billion pledge has grown to more than $10 billion, with a substantial portion earmarked for Ukraine’s procurement and production of long-range weaponry.
    Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • Boeing shares were down Friday, falling 3.8%, while GE Aerospace was down 2.4%.
    Allison Lampert, USA Today, 14 June 2025
  • Credit utilization is the share of one’s outstanding debt relative to their credit limit.
    Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 14 June 2025
Noun
  • With containment objectives largely met, the Apple Valley Fire Protection District and CAL FIRE have concluded their roles in Unified Command.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2025
  • The source also commended Kate for balancing her royal role while taking care of her health.
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Bear Fire has been burning on federal land managed by the United States Forest Service.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2025
  • But one of the main attractions to Ardross was its 2,000 acres of land.
    Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Adverb
  • Hutchinson received the ball on halfway, turned and drove through the centre of the pitch.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 13 June 2025
  • The tower, which belongs to WAMU-FM and stands approximately 321 feet tall, became the center of emergency activity after the man was spotted on a platform about halfway up at around 3 p.m. Tuesday.
    Elaine Mallon, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • Venice is made up of 118 islands separated by canals and connected by more than 400 bridges.
    Shayla Martin, Architectural Digest, 16 June 2025
  • The twin prime conjecture states that there are infinitely many twin primes—prime numbers that are separated by a value of two.
    Rachel Crowell, Scientific American, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Some of its missiles have a range of more than 300 miles and can strike a moving ship.
    Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 14 June 2025
  • Trump's deportation policies have moved toward workplaces, as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement tries to reach the White House's goal of 3,000 deportations a day.
    Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • Record-Low Absorption Rates Absorption rates in Florida's six bearish markets—calculated as monthly sales divided by available inventory and indicating the percentage of inventory purchased monthly—are at local lows, according to Parcl Labs, and well below the three-year average.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
  • Annual passes, divided into four levels by benefits and the number of block-out dates, are selling for $153 and $345.
    Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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