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
But for some Gen Zers, the hardest part comes after the plane has landed back home, when the Venmo requests go out. Rachel Hale, USA Today, 7 July 2026 Ballistic missiles and drones hammered parts of Kyiv, killing at least 19 people in the city and six others in the surrounding region, with dozens more wounded, city officials said. Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 7 July 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
Geometrically part your hair and wrap the crochet hair into knots. Aleah Wright, InStyle, 8 July 2026 Thus enabling the the suppliers to follow a pathway proportionate to part criticality. Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for part
Recent Examples of Synonyms for part
Noun
  • An extreme heat warning was in effect through Independence Day weekend across portions of the Midwest, South and Northeast, with New York City‘s Central Park reaching 100 on Thursday, the hottest temperature recorded there since July 18, 2012.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Multiple British media outlets, including the BBC, reported Monday, July 6, that the estranged prince would be staying at Buckingham Palace during the London portion of his visit the the United Kingdom.
    Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Tech giant Samsung was a drag on the overall market, with shares falling despite reporting a record preliminary second-quarter operating profit.
    Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 July 2026
  • The potential for prefab to capture a large share of the fire recovery and speed its progress is still only hypothetical.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • The pieces of it that Weiden shares with us, including a passage about Native athletes’ crucial role in the early history of the sport of football, are eye-opening.
    Chris Hewitt, Boston Herald, 10 July 2026
  • Symoné, who is reprising her role as Galleria, will also serve as an executive producer alongside Debra Martin Chase, according to Disney.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 9 July 2026
Noun
  • Played by the talented Halle Bailey, young mermaid Ariel yearns to be on land, has the hots for Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) – who at least gets a character arc this time – and agrees to a bad deal with witchy Ursula (Melissa McCarthy).
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • El Dorado Hills is one step closer to cityhood — and greater influence on land use — as its draft environmental study appeared before the community services district’s board Thursday night.
    Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
Adverb
  • As the brief clip shows, the flood reached about halfway up nearby transmission poles, and well beyond the first floor of nearby buildings.
    Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 8 July 2026
  • The intersection of the crosswires in the Redfield 4X scope had been exactly behind the foreleg and about halfway down from the backbone when the rifle went off.
    Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • There will be two 15-minute periods (plus stoppage time) separated by a short break.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 12 July 2026
  • Families torn apart The disaster has led to a particularly complex situation for those children who were separated from parents whose fate remains unclear.
    Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • He also was recently retained by the family of a Mississippi 1-year-old who was killed when police fired into a moving car.
    ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
  • Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • Democrats divided over Israeli conduct Khanna is the second Democrat considering a White House bid to visit the region this week.
    Rami Ayyub, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • That might mean structured group tasks in which pupils have to negotiate disagreement rather than simply divide the workload.
    Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Part.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/part. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on part

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster