section 1 of 2

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
Experts will give informal tours of the various plant beds contained in the garden’s Chinese medicinal garden section, answering guest questions. Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026 Refn’s Her Private Hell will make its world premiere at Cannes later this month in the out-of-competition section. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 May 2026
Verb
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 So, where does section 179 fit into all of this? Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for section
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
Noun
  • Mary Brown retired after coaching boys and girls volleyball in the district for 19 years, including the past eight years with the Knights’ boys team.
    Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Creating more majority-Republican districts but with thinner margins could dilute GOP advantages and give Democrats more opportunities to win seats, especially if there’s an anti-Trump backlash at the polls this year.
    Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The court struck down that portion of the legislation, a move that infuriated Cindy's family.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Hillsborough commissioner Joshua Wostal has proposed using a tourist development tax to pay the county’s portion of construction, but that would require the Rays to pay all the upfront costs for construction and get reimbursed with public funds over the next 35 years.
    John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Everyone knows, aka one blogger once wrote, that men who part their hair on the left are seen as stronger leaders.
    Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
  • At 50 feet tall, these varieties are smaller than the American elm, thrive in full to part sun, and require low to medium water.
    Special to The Denver Post, Denver Post, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • As of Sunday evening, traffic was snarled at Robertson Boulevard and Burton Way, which is on the border between Beverly Hills and the Los Angeles neighborhood of Beverly Grove.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
  • Just on Sunday night, a drone hit a high-rise apartment building in an upscale neighborhood of western central Moscow, according to local authorities and videos from the scene.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • The segment opened with the King Charles and Queen Camilla state visit to Washington.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 May 2026
  • Despite these setbacks, the condo and townhome segment demonstrated resilience, with average prices rising 9% to nearly $944,000.
    Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • Because there isn’t a prospect separating from the pack, who wins the lottery will, in part, dictate which player goes first, depending on organizational need and philosophical preference.
    Corey Pronman, New York Times, 4 May 2026
  • As the liquids pass a separating membrane, ions transfer between sides to charge or discharge power.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • The roughly 40-mile route goes through every borough as roads and bridges normally reserved for cars become a bike-only zone.
    Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 2 May 2026
  • Francisco Alvarez swung on a changeup well outside the zone, still managing to connect with the end of his bat, sending a single up the middle to score Bichette.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • Democrats, meanwhile, contend the map deliberately fragments minority communities — particularly in regions like Tampa Bay and South Florida — in ways that advantage Republicans.
    Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
  • In a landscape where trust is increasingly fragmented, that connection matters more than ever.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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