Separate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective noun /ˈse-pə-ˌrāt/ (verb) /ˈse-p(ə-)rət/ (adjective) sep·a·rate

Meaning & Definition of Separate

Separate (verb)

  1. to set or keep apart, disconnect, sever
  2. to make a distinction between, discriminate, distinguish
  3. sort

Separate (adjective)

  1. set or kept apart, detached
  2. solitary, secluded
  3. immaterial, disembodied

Separate (noun)

  1. offprint
  2. an article of dress designed to be worn interchangeably with others to form various costume combinations —usually used in plural

Separate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not the same or shared

    "we stayed in separate apartments on our vacation"

    similar: different, individual, respective
    related: disparate, dissimilar, distinct, distinctive, distinguishable, divergent, diverse, unalike, varied, various
    opposite: same
    near: identical, selfsame, very

  2. not physically attached to another unit

    "the housing development has 200 separate homes, each with its own enclosed yard"

    similar: detached, disconnected, discrete, free, freestanding, single, unattached, unconnected
    related: independent, self-contained, individual, private
    opposite: attached, connected, joined, linked
    near: adjoining

  3. not being under the rule or control of another

    "the former Soviet republic is now a separate country"

    similar: autonomous, free, freestanding, independent, self-governed, self-governing, self-ruling, sovereign
    related: freeborn, delivered, emancipated, freed, liberated, manumitted, redeemed, released, unconquered, unruled, unsupervised, empowered, enfranchised, democratic, republican
    opposite: dependent, nonautonomous, non-self-governing, subject, unfree
    near: bound, captive, conquered, enslaved, fettered, subdued, subjugated, inferior, subordinate, subservient

  4. of, relating to, or belonging to a single person

    "the husband and wife each have separate interests"

    similar: idiomatic, individual, individualized, particular, patented, peculiar, personal, personalized, private, privy, singular, subjective, unique
    related: characteristic, distinctive, intimate, identifying, idiosyncratic, especial, express, special, specific, independent, nonconformist, self-directed, self-sufficient, custom, customized, specialized
    opposite: general, generic, popular, public, shared, universal
    near: broad, prevailing, prevalent, widespread, common, normal, regular, typical

Separate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to set or force apart

    "we tried to separate the gluey pages, but they were stuck tight"

    similar: break up, decouple, disassociate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, ramify, resolve, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke
    related: break down, decompose, disassemble, disintegrate, dissolve, bifurcate, bisect, cleave, dichotomize, dissect, fractionalize, fractionate, halve, partition, quarter, segment, subdivide, trisect, fragment, fragmentate, fragmentize, break, fracture, pull, rend, rift, rip, rive, rupture, tear, cut off, insulate, isolate, seclude, segregate, sequester, detach, disengage, disentangle, unravel, untie
    opposite: join, link, unify, unite
    near: assemble, associate, blend, combine, mingle, mix, connect, couple, accumulate, agglutinate, attach, bind, cement, close, fasten, fuse, knit, stick, weld

  2. to go or move in different directions from a central point

    "the searchers separated in order to cover more ground"

    similar: branch (out), diverge, divide, fork, part, spread
    related: bestrew, break up, broadcast, clear out, disband, dispel, disperse, dissipate, distribute, scatter, sow, distance, recede, retreat
    opposite: converge, join
    near: assemble, gather, meet

  3. to arrange or assign according to type

    "separate the students by reading ability"

    similar: assort, break down, categorize, class, classify, codify, compartment, compartmentalize, digest, distinguish, distribute, grade, group, peg, place, range, rank, relegate, sort, type
    related: array, dispose, draw up, marshal, order, organize, systematize, alphabetize, catalog, file, index, list, refer, pigeonhole, shelve, identify, recognize, cull, screen, set, sieve, sift, winnow, clump, cluster, colligate, recategorize, reclassify, regroup, subcategorize
    near: confuse, disarrange, jumble, lump, mix (up), scramble, misclassify, missort, mistype

  4. to set or keep apart from others

    "separated the injured calf from the herd"

    similar: cut off, insulate, isolate, seclude, segregate, sequester
    related: quarantine, confine, immure, incarcerate, intern, jail, lock (up), restrain, restrict, abstract, detach, disengage, remove, detain, hold, keep
    opposite: desegregate, integrate, reintegrate
    near: assimilate, associate, connect, join, link, unite, discharge, free, liberate, loose, release

  5. to understand or point out the difference in

    "trying to separate science from religion on one specific point"

    similar: difference, differentiate, discern, discriminate, distinguish, secern
    related: contradistinguish, comprehend, grasp, know, understand, divide, part, sever, demarcate, mark (off), set off
    opposite: confuse, mistake, mix (up)
    near: confound, lump (together), mingle

  6. to cause (people) to break up into opposing groups

    "The controversy separated the company's leadership into competing sides."

    similar: divide, polarize, splinter, split
    related: fracture, fragment, alienate, disaffect, disgruntle, estrange, antagonize, embitter
    near: coalesce, unify, unite, conciliate, harmonize, reconcile, concentrate, consolidate

Related Entry: Separate (from) (verb)

Separate (from) is a different word from Separate. The synonyms below are for separate (from), not for separate.

  1. as in reject, renounce

    similar: abjure, cut off, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, escape, retreat (from), take off (from), vacate, withdraw (from), sacrifice, deliver, give up, hand over, relinquish, surrender, yield, distance, discard, ditch, dump, fling, jettison, junk, scrap, shed, shuck (off), throw away, throw out, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, abandon, desert, forsake, leave, maroon, quit, strand
    opposite: reclaim, harbor, have, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, withhold, redeem, rescue, save

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Separate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Separate:

different, individual, respective, detached, disconnected, discrete, free, freestanding, single, unattached, unconnected, autonomous, independent, self-governed, self-governing, self-ruling, sovereign, idiomatic, individualized, particular, patented, peculiar, personal, personalized, private, privy, singular, subjective, unique, break up, decouple, disassociate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Separate

Words with the opposite meaning of Separate:

same, attached, connected, joined, linked, dependent, nonautonomous, non-self-governing, subject, unfree, general, generic, popular, public, shared, universal, join, link, unify, unite, converge, desegregate, integrate, reintegrate, confuse, mistake, mix (up)

Related Words for Separate

disparate, dissimilar, distinct, distinctive, distinguishable, divergent, diverse, unalike, varied, various, self-contained, freeborn, delivered, emancipated, freed, liberated, manumitted, redeemed, released, unconquered, unruled, unsupervised, empowered, enfranchised, democratic, republican, characteristic, intimate, identifying, idiosyncratic

Near Antonyms of Separate

identical, selfsame, very, adjoining, bound, captive, conquered, enslaved, fettered, subdued, subjugated, inferior, subordinate, subservient, broad, prevailing, prevalent, widespread, common, normal, regular, typical, assemble, associate, blend, combine, mingle, mix, connect, couple

Word Forms of Separate

Inflections: separated, separating

Derived words: separateness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Separate

Middle English, from Latin separatus, past participle of separare, from se- apart + parare to prepare, procure secede, pare

First known use: 15th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Separate

Words & Phrases Containing Separate

separate off, separate out, separate the men from the boys, separate the sheep from the goats, separate the wheat from the chaff, go separate ways, under separate cover

Frequently Asked Questions about Separate

What does "Separate" mean?

"Separate" means to set or keep apart, disconnect, sever. As an a verb, an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: to set or keep apart, disconnect, sever. It has 10 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Separate"?

Other words for "Separate" include different, individual, respective, detached, disconnected, discrete, free and freestanding. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Separate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Separate"?

There are 230 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Separate". Common alternatives include different, individual, respective, detached, disconnected, discrete, free, freestanding, single and unattached.

What is the opposite of "Separate"?

Antonyms of "Separate" include same, attached, connected, joined, linked, dependent, nonautonomous and non-self-governing. Near antonyms include identical, selfsame, very and adjoining.

How do you use "Separate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Separate" in a sentence: "we stayed in separate apartments on our vacation"; "the housing development has 200 separate homes, each with its own enclosed yard"; "the former Soviet republic is now a separate country".

Is "Separate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Separate" can be used as a verb, an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Separate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Separate" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Separate"?

"Separate" is pronounced /ˈse-pə-ˌrāt/ as a verb and /ˈse-p(ə-)rət/ as an adjective and divided into syllables as sep·a·rate.