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
Nonna Marisa Carpenetti was born in 1938 in Istria, now part of Croatia but at the time occupied by Italy. Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026 Also make sure all parts are present, and ask to see the telescope set-up if possible. Damian Peach, Space.com, 4 Aug. 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
But every dish gets a twist, or a zing, or a moment of cloud-parting clarity. Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 26 July 2026 The clouds began to part as Dylan and his band took the stage. Raj Tawney, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for part
Recent Examples of Synonyms for part
Noun
  • James' decision to run for governor left open his seat in the 10th District, which includes a portion of Oakland County and stretches across conservative communities in Macomb County.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Temperatures reached at least 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for five consecutive days in some areas in late July, the country’s longest such streak on record, and heatstroke alerts have repeatedly covered large portions of the country.
    Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Palantir shares, which had fallen roughly 30% this year after a blistering rally in 2025, surged more than 14% in after-hours trading Monday following the results.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Amazon shares gained 4% and hit a new all-time high on Monday, putting its market cap over the $3 trillion threshold for the first time following a better-than-expected earnings report last week.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Jaleel White is an actor, writer, and producer best known for his role as Steve Urkel on Family Matters.
    Big Think, Big Think, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Historically, the Jewish community played a major role in the spice trade in Kochi, a hub for black pepper, cardamom and nutmeg.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Those cells can be loaded with Tomahawk land-attack missiles as well as hypersonic vehicles.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Despite their mass, the mammals do know how to accelerate in water and on land.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • The Miccosukee tribe runs a service plaza halfway across with a food court, gas station and casino.
    Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The climb to the Castle of St John involves about 1,350 steps and 850-some feet of ascent, passing the Church of Our Lady of Remedy halfway up.
    Jonathan Wiggin, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Long dark lines, separated by white spaces, race across the ground or sides of buildings.
    Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • With less than a point separating the top five competitors, the all-around race quickly heated up.
    Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Gemini Moon moves through your 9th House of Learning and sextiles the Leo Sun in your 11th House of Community, helping big-picture thinking connect with friends, groups, or shared goals.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Though less significant than the Strait of Hormuz, around 12% of the world’s trade, including a fourth of global container traffic, once passed through Bab el-Mandeb, moving between Europe and Asia via Egypt’s Suez Canal.
    Fatma Khaled, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Taking a break from slinging hamburgers during the weekend lunch rush, Darlene Dumond acknowledged that Allagash remains divided on Jackson.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • No distributions were ever made by the Children's Trust to any of its beneficiaries, and the beneficial shares of that trust were not divided into separate shares for each of the beneficiaries as was also required by the 2020 amendment.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Part.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/part. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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