separate

[ˈsɛpəreɪt]

separate Definition

• 1. to divide into different parts or sections
• 2. to cause people or things to stop being together, joined, or connected
• 3. not joined or touching physically

Using separate: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "separate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The wall separates the two rooms.

• Example

  They decided to separate after years of marriage.

• Example

  The salt and pepper should be kept in separate containers.

• Example

  The twins were separated at birth and raised by different families.

separate Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for separate

• divide
• detach
• disconnect
• disengage
• unfasten

Antonyms for separate

• combine
• join
• attach
• unite
• connect

Idioms Using separate

• separate ways

  to go in different directions or pursue different paths

  Example

  After graduation, we went our separate ways and lost touch with each other.

• separate the sheep from the goats

  to distinguish between those who are worthy or virtuous and those who are not

  Example

  The charity event aimed to separate the sheep from the goats and raise funds for the most deserving causes.

• separate beds, but united hearts

  a phrase used to describe a couple who sleep in separate beds but still love each other

  Example

  My grandparents slept in separate beds, but they always said they had united hearts.

Phrases with separate

• separate the wheat from the chaff

  to distinguish between what is valuable or important and what is not

  Example

  The manager had to separate the wheat from the chaff when reviewing the job applications.

• separate the men from the boys

  to distinguish between those who are mature, experienced, or capable and those who are not

  Example

  The training program was designed to separate the men from the boys and identify the best candidates for the job.

• separate but equal

  a legal doctrine that allowed racial segregation as long as separate facilities were provided for different races, used especially in the US before the Civil Rights Movement

  Example

  The Supreme Court's decision in Plessy v. Ferguson established the principle of separate but equal, which was later overturned in Brown v. Board of Education.

Origins of separate

from Latin 'separatus', past participle of 'separare', meaning 'to pull apart'

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Summary: separate in Brief

The verb 'separate' [ˈsɛpəreɪt] means to divide into different parts or sections, to cause people or things to stop being together, joined, or connected, or to be not joined or touching physically. It can refer to physical objects, relationships, or abstract concepts, as in 'The salt and pepper should be kept in separate containers.' 'Separate' extends into phrases like 'separate the wheat from the chaff,' and idioms like 'separate ways,' denoting diverging paths, and 'separate beds, but united hearts,' implying emotional closeness despite physical distance.