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

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
Joey Abrams curated the deals section of today’s newsletter. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026 Given that the statements were registered as Fox prepares to revamp its current rights deal with the NFL, the gesture—and a subsequent piece in the opinion section of Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal—should make for an interesting spring in Midtown. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
Snowpiercer Survivors of Earth's second ice age live out their days on a luxury train that's sectioned by class. Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 30 Dec. 2025 Chef Asanuma quickly dispatches the snow crab, deftly sectioning the legs and body with a few soft, swift crunches of a long blade. Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 17 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for section
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
Noun
  • Those comments largely served as a testament to the staunch conservative’s willingness to work across the aisle to secure funding for his district.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
  • After more than a year of searching, Executive Director Cody Lund said that only three lots in downtown Boise were large enough to consider, and none were contiguous with the district’s property by The Grove.
    Mark Dee April 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Kitchen staff pile the plates high with big portions, ensuring leftovers to take home.
    Joe Marusak April 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
  • No substitution or compensation will be given for any portion of the prize that is not used.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Trever parts his hair to the right while his brother styles his combover to the left.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
  • After liftoff, some Michiganders may catch a Florida rocket shoot into space from southeast Michigan skies, if clouds part in time.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The neighborhood/area The hotel sits in the North Loop area of Minneapolis, blocks away from the iconic Hennepin Street Bridge with easy access to the riverfront parks along the Mississippi, with their great cycling and walking trails and varied perspectives on the city.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Pittsburgh Police detectives are investigating after a man was found shot in the area of Mayflower Street in the city's Larimer neighborhood.
    Mike Darnay, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The available variants include the 135 Air, 135 Pro, 230 Pro, and the range-topping 230 Max, each expected to cater to different performance and feature preferences within the segment.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Nini makes an admirable attempt here, but again Ru’s character is playing against rather than with her to such a degree that, as in all these segments, things just devolve into screaming overtop each other.
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The fees would go to the city’s Housing Trust Fund, which offers money to separate development projects that create or maintain affordable housing across the city.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The two have largely been on their own since Estrada Juarez separated from Bello’s father nearly 20 years ago.
    Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Teamwork thrives when promises are specific, and as tough Saturn sextiles excavating Pluto, your friendship zone and your travel sector combine.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Restricted airspace and maritime exclusion zones appeared days in advance, matching prior hypersonic trial setups.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The vendor chalked this up to Apple controlling the entire update stack, as opposed to Android, where updates are likely fragmented across diverse manufacturers and device types.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Letters are fragmented into the surrounding steps, allowing visitors to interact with the text and engage with the memory of these women in a tactile, participatory way.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

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