part 1 of 3

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 Parks and Recreation star, who was part of the sketch comedy show's cast from 2001 to 2008, reflected on SNL during a conversation with her former costar Will Forte on her podcast Good Hang. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 19 June 2025 This is part of the wider collaboration between BWPC and the league. Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Adverb
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 kept her makeup look natural with bold lashes, and wore her blonde hair parted down the middle in loose waves. Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025 Aina’s long blond hair was curled and parted to the side of her head. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for part
Recent Examples of Synonyms for part
Noun
  • This year brought two new adverse factors — President Donald Trump’s tariffs that could generate retaliatory tariffs, depressing export markets, and Trump’s sweeps of undocumented immigrants, who are a major portion of the agricultural labor force.
    Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
  • That involves both the Medicaid portion of the bill as well as the state and local tax deduction, which remain in flux.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • CarMax reported its 2025 first quarter earnings, causing a rise in share price.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 26 June 2025
  • Two of the industry’s biggest companies filed for bankruptcy this month, and all have taken a big hit to their share prices.
    Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • The source also commended Kate for balancing her royal role while taking care of her health.
    Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 18 June 2025
  • This may mean a significant reduction of day-to-day management responsibilities or restructuring their roles to emphasize capital investment over active participation.
    Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • The bill eliminates hundreds of billions of dollars in Green New Deal tax credits, repeals former President Joe Biden administration’s electric vehicle mandates, and opens federal lands and waters to oil, gas, coal, geothermal and mineral leasing, according to the EPA’s Tuesday post.
    Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
  • First discovered: 4:32 p.m. June 20 Initial location: Fresno County, Calif. Fire type: Wildfire Fire name: Fresno Slough Mendota A new wildfire was reported today at 4:32 p.m. in Fresno County, California. Fresno Slough Mendota Fire has been burning on private land.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2025
Adverb
  • The United States flew halfway around the world, right into the heart of Iran, over their most sensitive locations.
    CBS News, CBS News, 22 June 2025
  • For three tests between June and November 2024, Starship flew halfway around the world before reentering Earth's atmosphere and splashing down as planned in the Indian Ocean.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • The arrests resemble kidnappings because people are abruptly separated from accompanying family members and attorneys and disappear into elevators.
    Pedro Rios, Mercury News, 16 June 2025
  • Kids are less often separated from siblings or forced to change schools.
    Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Wales have done well under Wilkinson to move away from a hardened reputation as being Fishlock’s team and become more of a sum of their parts.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 June 2025
  • Protests by locals, who are frustrated with overtourism and Bezos’ links to President Donald Trump, forced Bezos to move a wedding party from a central Venetian nightlife area to a more isolated part of the city, Reuters reported.
    Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Record-Low Absorption Rates Absorption rates in Florida's six bearish markets—calculated as monthly sales divided by available inventory and indicating the percentage of inventory purchased monthly—are at local lows, according to Parcl Labs, and well below the three-year average.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
  • Annual passes, divided into four levels by benefits and the number of block-out dates, are selling for $153 and $345.
    Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Part.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/part. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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