Separate Definition & Meaning
separate
- adjective
- independent; not united or joint; "a problem consisting of two separate issues"; "they went their separate ways"; "formed a separate church"
- standing apart; not attached to or supported by anything; "a freestanding bell tower"; "a house with a separate garage"
- separated according to race, sex, class, or religion; "separate but equal"; "girls and boys in separate classes"
- have the connection undone; having become separate
- noun
- a separately printed article that originally appeared in a larger publication
- a garment that can be purchased separately and worn in combinations with other garments
- verb
- act as a barrier between; stand between; "The mountain range divides the two countries"
- force, take, or pull apart; "He separated the fighting children"; "Moses parted the Red Sea"
- mark as different; "We distinguish several kinds of maple"
- separate into parts or portions; "divide the cake into three equal parts"; "The British carved up the Ottoman Empire after World War I"
- divide into components or constituents; "Separate the wheat from the chaff"
- arrange or order by classes or categories; "How would you classify these pottery shards--are they prehistoric?"
- make a division or separation
- discontinue an association or relation; go different ways; "The business partners broke over a tax question"; "The couple separated after 25 years of marriage"; "My friend and I split up"
- go one's own way; move apart; "The friends separated after the party"
- become separated into pieces or fragments; "The figurine broke"; "The freshly baked loaf fell apart"
- treat differently on the basis of sex or race
- come apart; "The two pieces that we had glued separated"
- divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork; "The road forks"
"Separate" in song lyrics
See how separate is used in real songs:
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"Contact money paid workers and separate"
Bootleg — Celebrate -
"My crustal plate, you can't separate"
Buddha Monk f/ Drunken Dragon, Espionage — Gots Like Come on Thru (Original Version) -
"Sceond-rate rappers, your neck and head finna separate"
Crooked I f/ K-Young — U Shoulda Made a Phone Call
Words that rhyme with separate
Usage tips for "separate"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "separate" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for separate to find words that pair well.