section 1 of 2

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

Relevance
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
First, section your hair in six to eight pieces with clips, says Bennett. Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 21 Aug. 2025 Jay, a gay man in his thirties, is sectioned after a bipolar episode and refuses to accept his diagnosis. Callum McLennan, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Drawings of the Duffield Cave, as seen in the YouTube video, show that the section has a narrow entrance, then curves upward before flowing left, dropping down again and bending right before angling back up to a larger chamber. Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025 Classic crimp Holding your thumb and index finger about 1 inch apart, pinch a section of the piecrust to form a V shape. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for section
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
Noun
  • This ticket must be cashed at a Florida Lottery district office, such as the one in Miami Lakes, 14621 Oak Ln.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
  • His district is a toss-up, and the new congressional map changes the geography and demographics of the district to help the GOP’s chances.
    Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The service was crisp, the portions were highly generous (don’t miss the breakfast buffet).
    Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Looking ahead, Rees said the North American consumer is bifurcated, with highly affluent shoppers in great financial shape and a large portion of customers at the lower end who are super cautious about their spending and buying closer to need.
    Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Her glam was also a nod to Old Hollywood, as the star rocked a bold red lip and smokey eye, paired with her blonde bombshell curls parted on the side.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Daedone persuaded the swelling ranks of OM enthusiasts, givers and receivers alike, to join an experiment in communal living, gradually parting them from their wealth and autonomy.
    Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • An art conservator who'd prefer to be immersed in detail work, Sarah is bombing as the host of a dinner party where her entrepreneur husband (Tom Riley) hopes to impress an obnoxious prospective investor (Tom Goodman-Hill) when a literal explosive goes off in her neighborhood.
    Judy Berman, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Established in 2022 in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood, ICA SF launched with an exhibition of Jeffrey Gibson comprising a large-scale video installation and holes excavated in the gallery floor.
    News Desk, Artforum, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Henry Romero | Reuters Europe's largest lender HSBC on Tuesday beat third-quarter profit expectations as the bank's net interest income rose while performance of its wealth segment was also robust.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2025
  • And an even larger proportion of the same segment of American society, even those willing to contemplate the abolition of slavery, could not imagine a post-emancipation America of racial equality as anything but a nightmare.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • That’s one investment that has proved rather unfruitful so far, although things appear to be looking up for WBD investors currently with company on the auction block and simultaneously preparing to separate its cable operations and studios/streaming into to companies.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The actor and his ex-wife Dewan, 44, separated back in 2018 and settled their divorce in September 2024.
    Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Council on Foreign Relations currently tracks almost 30 conflict zones around the world, including both internecine and international struggles.
    Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • To the defense’s credit, Washington’s explosive first half produced only seven points, which was a testament to Kansas City’s resilience on fourth down and in the red zone.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • With opposition parties fragmented and public opinion largely favoring peace and progress, CCM’s victory in 2025 appears real.
    Danish Manzoor Bhat, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Technology increasingly fragments our attention into smaller and smaller units, leaving us less anchored in our own lives.
    Arianna Huffington, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on section

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!