Definition of partnext

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
Moccasin Flats started with a simple idea—build three houses in Southern Utah that feel more like part of the desert than something dropped onto it. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2026 The characters have much more interiority than the typical part for a 12-year-old. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
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
And these circumstances don’t make parting any easier for the pair. Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Sep. 2026 When their plan goes horribly awry, the couple is parted once again. Tanya Fedak, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for part
Recent Examples of Synonyms for part
Noun
  • Flood Watches are up for portions of Montana and Wyoming through Sunday afternoon.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The LaRue family was followed by the Romani family, which updated the infrastructure and remodeled portions of the house.
    David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The Apollo investment is a combination of debt and equity in Yankee Global Enterprises (YGE), and the Steinbrenners and some LP stakeholders sold some of their shares.
    Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Along with Riot, the couple share son RZA, 4, and daughter Rocki, 1, and often enjoy fun family moments.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The layer plays a vital role in absorbing the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, which can cause diseases such as skin cancer.
    Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The 2,000-pound bombs have been employed by Israel on hundreds of occasions in Gaza and Lebanon, playing a significant role in the death toll of those conflicts.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • On one hand, the aggressive expansion of data centers is intensifying competition for finite resources like land and water, putting them in direct conflict with agricultural land use in certain regions.
    , CNBC, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Florida’s Legislature passed a data-center bill this year with broad bipartisan support — 92-16 in the House, 31-6 in the Senate — requiring large data centers to pay their full cost of service and giving local governments more say over land use.
    Kam Shenai, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • Music from generations before them and music released halfway around the world yesterday.
    Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Pegula went into the net, and Sabalenka was halfway to the final.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Brad Pitt was separated from girlfriend Ines De Ramon during Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding.
    Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Ravel’s patent application describes cleaning and shredding incoming textiles, removing metal and other nontextile components and separating waste into broad material categories before purification.
    Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The helicopter moves quickly away from the bus crash site and starts losing altitude.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Duarte’s writing features detailed prose and a moving storyline, encompassing grief, healing, and the losses borne by a Latinx family in the name of American patriotism.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Leftover produce, meat and pantry items were divided into items that could be used next week and what could go home with staff.
    Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
  • But Californians are narrowly divided on the wealth tax, and passage could come down to the wire when voters cast ballots in November.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Part.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/part. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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