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separate

[ˈsɛpəreɪt]

separate Definition

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

Antonyms for separate

Idioms Using separate

  • to go in different directions or pursue different paths

    Example

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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

How do native speakers use this expression?