What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
diverge
Example
The hiking trail diverged into two paths, and we took the one on the left. [diverged: past tense]
Example
Their opinions on politics began to diverge as they grew older. [diverge: verb]
Example
The meeting diverged from the original agenda and turned into a heated debate. [diverged: past tense]
separate
Example
The twins decided to separate and attend different colleges. [separate: verb]
Example
The fence separates our yard from the neighbor's. [separates: present tense]
Example
The recipe called for separating the egg yolks from the whites. [separating: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Separate is more commonly used than diverge in everyday language. Separate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while diverge is less common and often used in specific contexts such as roads or opinions.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between diverge and separate?
Both diverge and separate can be used in formal and informal contexts, but separate is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
