sever

American  

[sev-er] / ˈsɛv ər /

verb (used with object)

• severs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• severed,
  past participle,  past
• severing
  present participle

1. to separate (a part) from the whole, as by cutting or the like.

2. to divide into parts, especially forcibly; cleave.

3. to break off or dissolve (ties, relations, etc.).

4. Law. to divide into parts; disunite (an estate, titles of a statute, etc.).

5. to distinguish; discriminate between.

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verb (used without object)

• severs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• severed,
  past participle,  past
• severing
  present participle

1. to become separated from each other; become divided into parts.

sever British  

/ ˈsɛvə /

verb

1. to put or be put apart; separate

2. to divide or be divided into parts

3. (tr) to break off or dissolve (a tie, relationship, etc)

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• severing
  present
• severed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• sever
  simple
• severs
  simple
• have severed
  perfect
• has severed
  perfect
• am severing
  progressive
• are severing
  progressive
• is severing
  progressive
• have been severing
  perfect progressive
• has been severing
  perfect progressive

Past

• severed
  simple
• had severed
  perfect
• was severing
  progressive
• were severing
  progressive
• had been severing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will sever
  simple
• will have severed
  perfect
• will be severing
  progressive
• will have been severing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of sever

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English severen, from Middle French sev(e)rer; see separate

Explanation

To sever something is to cut it off from the whole. If your girlfriend breaks up with you on your anniversary, you might respond by severing the blossoms off the roses you were planning to give her. (Just an idea.) Sever rhymes with ever, but it looks like the word severe, which means "harsh." The similarity between sever and severe is a good reminder to reserve sever for harsh, unpleasant circumstances. If you’re trimming your fingernails, you might use the word clip, but sever wouldn’t be appropriate. If, however, you somehow cut off your finger while clipping your fingernails, you’re free to use the word sever — or any other word you like — on your way to the hospital.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sever severs severed severing

Her government is trying to sever the link between popular culture and the criminal underworld, denouncing narcocorridos, songs which glorify criminals, as well as tackling crime head on.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Now, however, it seems Quaid is ready to sever his remaining ties to California, putting his dwelling on the market for just over $1 million more than he paid for it nearly 10 years ago.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026

Then it actually made me sever myself from the character, and the character became its own thing that she brought to life.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

It signals to every counterparty transacting with a designated party that it could be next, inducing it to sever its ties to Iranian-linked finance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026

I don’t know how far he got, how many of the iron belts he managed to sever, before a spark from the torch made it into the tank.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

“It severs key lines of communication and coordination between vulnerable unaccompanied children and the institutions in place to ensure their protection,” she said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 22, 2025

It follows workers at a megacorporation who submit to a procedure that severs their work memories from their personal ones, and it gets wildly weird.

From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2025

Indeed, there is a growing feeling it may be the international break in November when Amorim finally severs ties with Sporting.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2024

This is what severs Oliver's formal relationship with National Review.

From Salon ● Apr. 20, 2024

In the Greek myth of Prometheus the gift of fire forever severs humankind from the natural world—the burning torch is the icon of the constructed and artificial.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

These are among the most severe forms of DNA damage because both strands of the DNA molecule are severed.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 2, 2026

Dozens of mostly smaller law enforcement agencies have severed their ties to Flock in recent months.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

The UN's refugee agency said on Tuesday that food shortages were widespread, basic services had broken down and communications had been largely severed in La Guaira.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

As CEO, van Raemdonck closed stores, cut staff, and severed some partnerships, The Wall Street Journal reported.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

As soon as Dr. Philobosian had severed the cord of flesh, another, spiritual connection had grown up in its place.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Alongside the screenshots of her comments in the group chat, she shared a February 2025 exchange with Stenberg that shows the author severing ties with the actor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

“If you say that, you risk severing your relationship with your parent.”

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

Not the part about severing ties to the British crown; that was a fine idea.

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026

In a statement released Wednesday, Cuba's central bank said a foreign bank was severing ties with Fincimex S.A.,

From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026

“So you nearly succeeded in severing the child from her dæmon?” said Father MacPhail.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• abandon
• break off
• dissolve
• put an end to
• separate
• terminate