Definition of sectionnext
1
as in district
an area (as of a city) set apart for some purpose or having some special feature several abandoned warehouses in the city's industrial section are being converted into art galleries and artists' lofts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in portion
one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled had trouble fitting the sections of the bookcase together

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

section

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word section distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of section are division, fragment, member, part, piece, portion, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

In what contexts can division take the place of section?

Although the words division and section have much in common, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is it sensible to use fragment instead of section?

The words fragment and section 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 is member a more appropriate choice than section?

While in some cases nearly identical to section, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When can part be used instead of section?

The synonyms part and section are sometimes interchangeable, but part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would piece be a good substitute for section?

The words piece and section can be used in similar contexts, but piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When could portion be used to replace section?

While the synonyms portion and section are close in meaning, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When might segment be a better fit than section?

In some situations, the words segment and section 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 section
Noun
Amid all that drama, Dunham also gave Swift a special heartfelt shout-out in the acknowledgements section of her book. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026 Amazon's sale section is packed with summer fashion like breezy dresses, ready-to-go matching sets, and flowy pants that, most importantly, are wrinkle-free. Aashna Gheewalla, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Verb
The process began with detangling, drying, and sectioning each model’s hair before additional wefts from True Hair Company were installed to enhance length and fullness. Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 23 Feb. 2026 How to do miracle knots Start by sectioning out clean, even parts and braiding them into single plaits. Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 12 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for section
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
Noun
  • Despite sweltering, beating heat in the city on Friday, Philly's historic district was crowded, with sweating visittors flocking to the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and The President's House.
    Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Both public school districts continue to outperform the state of Florida average testing marks for most academic subject and skill tests.
    Austin Horn July 3, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
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
Verb
  • But the mom’s parting gift, a diary, provides opaque glimpses into her life with Alfonso in the mid-1980s.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • The body of her bouffant hair was parted over the left side of her head, with pieces tickling the top of her forehead.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • In an aerial view, a residential neighborhood is seen on June 4, 2026 in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
    Diana Olick, CNBC, 8 July 2026
  • If multiple people become infected within a neighborhood, a typical source would be a cooling tower, hot tub or spray fountain, NYC Health wrote on its website.
    Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • Rob, who died in December at age 78, portrayed George Washington in a segment inspired by the first president’s decision to step away after two terms in office.
    Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
  • Standalone segments in the anthology will focus on different objects, entities or events under the containment-breach narrative.
    Mya Copeland, Variety, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • This is not Copenhagen, which has wide boulevards where vehicles and bikes can be easily separated.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • The film tells the story of the tender yet destructive friendship between two 13-year-old boys who run away when they are threatened with being separated.
    Alissa Simon, Variety, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Three hours before each World Cup match there, is a no-fly drone zone.
    Kelly O'Donnell, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • Class 3 e-bikes are allowed to go up to 28 mph, which is fast enough to speed in a school zone.
    Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • The margin previously fragmented across intermediaries flows back, in meaningful part, to the carrier that orchestrated the trip.
    Somit Goyal, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • But the overall picture of the possible Russian drone campaign suggests that the European response has been fragmented and uncoordinated for the most part so far.
    Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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