part 1 of 3

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 other part of the thrill is his willingness to address the controversy swirling around him. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 31 May 2026 How to Book The hotel is part of the three-tier Avantgarde Ones loyalty program, which offers discounts on dining, spa treatments, and laundry. Anya Von Bremzen, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 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
The actress styled her hair straight and parted down the middle and went with bold eye makeup and subtle lipstick. Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026 None of this is good for BSO in a year when Deerfield Beach decided to part ways with the sheriff, largely over Tony’s my-way-or-the-highway style. Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for part
Recent Examples of Synonyms for part
Noun
  • The chance of severe weather is greatest from southern Maryland, across the bay to the lower portion of the eastern shore.
    Cutter Martin, CBS News, 26 May 2026
  • Wildfires in 2020, particularly the CZU Lightning Fire, burned 86,509 acres across the Santa Cruz Mountains in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, destroying a huge portion of their feeding grounds.
    Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Noun
  • Nilsson’s version shares little with its source beyond Adam and Eve themselves, here recast as doughy, beigy silhouettes striking poses amid an almost psychedelic soup of parti-color fronds, blobs, and amoebas.
    Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • Impressions, ad value equivalency and share of voice were artifacts of an analog era.
    Parry Headrick, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • The role of a leader is to show the way to work.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 May 2026
  • That principle still holds, but the cycle time has compressed and is reshaping the leadership role itself.
    Lior Weinstein, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • So how did Breslow land on Durbin as the target as opposed to, say, another infielder with more power but less defense?
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
  • In it, a Native Hawaiian family struggles to reclaim the ancestral lands that colonization, tourism, and rampant development threaten to overrun.
    Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Adverb
  • As if someone wearing a mask halfway through 2026 has IQ points left to lose.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
  • Hulst was not even halfway through his sophomore year.
    Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • What separates Babylonstoren from the many, many wineries and exceptional hotels in and around the Winelands though is its 12-acre garden, designed by French garden architect Patrice Taravella, that has since been nurtured and nourished by an incredible team of landscapists and horticulturists.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Graphix, June 2 Recommended for ages 9-12 Longtime stepsisters Kenzie and Quinn are closer than close—but with their parents considering divorce, the girls face the awful possibility of being separated.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Make sure the belt doesn't move, push your knees out into the belt, and hold.
    Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 29 May 2026
  • Nippon Dynawave was cited for moving equipment involved before it could be inspected, but not for the incident itself, the news outlet reported.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Tier One, Tier Two and Tier Three can be divided into elite clubs, those from the level just below and the wealthy middle-class, respectively.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 27 May 2026
  • The False Comfort Of The Status Quo With firewalls in place, VLANs dividing the network and perimeter defenses monitoring network traffic, security and business leaders often believe their current controls are enough to hold attackers at bay until the next investment cycle.
    Jaushin Lee, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Part.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/part. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

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