depart
Americanverb (used without object)
-
departs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
departed,
past participle, past
-
departing
present participle
-
to go away; leave.
She departed from Paris today. The train departs at 10:52.
- Antonyms:
- arrive
-
to diverge or deviate (usually followed byfrom ).
The new method departs from the old in several respects.
-
to pass away, as from life or existence; die.
verb (used with object)
-
departs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
departed,
past participle, past
-
departing
present participle
noun
verb
-
to go away; leave
-
to start out; set forth
-
(usually foll by from) to deviate; differ; vary
to depart from normal procedure
-
(tr) to quit (archaic, except in the phrase depart this life )
Synonym Usage
Depart, retire, retreat, withdraw imply leaving a place. Depart is a somewhat literary word for going away from a place: to depart on a journey. Retire emphasizes absenting oneself or drawing back from a place: to retire from a position in battle. Retreat implies a necessary withdrawal, especially as a result of adverse fortune in war: to retreat to secondary lines of defense. Withdraw suggests leaving some specific place or situation, usually for some definite and often unpleasant reason: to withdraw from a hopeless task.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
departsimple
-
departssimple
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have departedperfect
-
has departedperfect
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am departingprogressive
-
are departingprogressive
-
is departingprogressive
-
have been departingperfect progressive
-
has been departingperfect progressive
Past
-
departedsimple
-
had departedperfect
-
was departingprogressive
-
were departingprogressive
-
had been departingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of depart
1175–1225; Middle English departen < Old French departir, equivalent to de- de- + partir to go away; see part ( v. )
Explanation
To depart is to go away or to choose a different direction. If you are catching a plane, you are soon to depart. And, if you are wearing a kilt instead of jeans, you depart from your usual look. Airports and train stations have gates for arrivals and departures. Airplanes and people coming in "arrive" while those going out depart. You also can depart without going anywhere, as when you change your mind and depart from an earlier decision. To "depart from the norm" is an expression for doing something different than expected, like giggling during a tear-jerker of a movie.
Vocabulary lists containing depart
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 8
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The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
She failed to depart by April 14, 2021, in defiance of our laws.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
Kenvue is being acquired and will therefore depart the index.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026
If Carrick does depart, finances will inevitably be a factor.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Lagarde is set to depart the ECB in February, and the European Council said it will immediately begin the process of finding her successor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
The sleek brown mare shook her mane and snorted, stamping a hoof as if impatient to depart.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Its new incarnation features design contributions from Schrager and British minimalist designer John Pawson and departs from upscale boutique hotel tradition in several ways.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026
Messi departs as the record appearance-maker and goal-scorer for Argentina but will continue his club career with Major League Soccer team Inter Miami.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
He departs with a League Cup semi-final against derby rivals Hearts to come on 1 November.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
As Creative Director Ib Kamara departs Off-White, what’s going on at the luxury streetwear label?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
We all express thanks to our server, who offers a courteous nod before she departs.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
The federal agents departed the hospital shortly after a priest appeared at the scene of the protest, video shows.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026
This did not reach those heights, as the upper tier was closed off because of a lack of ticket sales - and fans of Manchester's Jack Rafferty departed after he won the co-main event.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026
Duffy said the plane, a Learjet 60, had departed from Austin, Texas and was headed for the Bahamas.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
The flight then departed shortly after midnight, with two pilots on board and a flight attendant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
He issued last-minute instructions to staff, and when ten people had crammed themselves into the cab or the bed of the pickup, needing a ride to various destinations, we departed the complex.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Nadeem Meghji, global head of real estate, shocked the firm in September when he said he was departing to spend more time with his family.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026
“If departing colleagues receive little support, it can damage morale and make people question their own job security.”
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026
Misiorowski delivered his most dominant performance of the playoffs, overwhelming the Rays over 5 ⅔ scoreless innings before departing with a calf cramp.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
It has been a muddled start with suggestions Newcastle have lacked leadership and experience, with England defender Kieran Trippier, 36, also departing this summer.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
Before departing, he gave Westerberg a treasured 1942 edition of Tolstoys War and Peace.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
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