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
The team takes their time with every detail, the presentation and professionalism part of the point. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026 Guard units have slowly begun expanding into less visible parts of the capital where crime is more prevalent, a shift that could accelerate as the deployment enters its second year. Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 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 no smile can truly part the clouds that loom over Nacua off the gridiron. Kai Dizon, Oc Register, 30 July 2026 For an additional pop of color, Cardi wore her hair in an icy blue bob that was parted to the side and curled under at the ends. Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for part
Recent Examples of Synonyms for part
Noun
  • But developers accustomed to CUDA may need to rewrite and optimize substantial portions of their existing code before moving their training workloads to Ascend.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026
  • That effectively takes a large portion of the National Guard off the table, narrowing the pool of available units at a time when the force is also balancing deployments and other commitments overseas.
    Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the share of California public safety employees with at least 15 years of tenure dramatically rose from about 10% in 1996 to 47% in 2024.
    Mariana Trujillo, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The firm also hiked its price target on shares to $318, signaling more than 30% upside.
    Fred Imbert, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Scorpio October 23 – November 21 A group plan can improve when the roles become clearer.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Getting the role wasn’t any sort of immediate windfall either.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Digital artist Lily Belmira has created a free video game that recreates the environment of Michael Heizer’s monumental land art sculpture City, 1970–2022, in the Nevada desert.
    News Desk, Artforum, 14 Aug. 2026
  • On top of the congestion problem, the Strait of Hormuz disruption is also forcing carriers to rely on more expensive alternative routings and land bridges, tacking on substantial operational costs.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Despite that, Highbury remains a modest affair, with one stand ending abruptly halfway down the touchline, and the rest of that space taken up by a social club.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The ticket was purchased at a gas station in the city of Quincy, which is on the Mississippi River about halfway down the Illinois coast.
    Mark Osborne, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • For the first time, two worlds—once separated—are coming face to face, not through screams, but through laughter.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The couple separated in 1981, and their divorce was finalized in 1983.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Frequent population movements linked to mining and people fleeing armed conflict add another complication, as people can move before surveillance teams are able to follow up with them.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers also want to move beyond bulk pyrite crystals and produce thin films, which are more directly relevant to electronic and energy devices.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • More than ever, colleges and universities are divided over how to respond in what are likely to be no-win contests.
    David Wippman, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Union households support the measure, while non-union families are evenly divided about it.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Part.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/part. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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