depart
Americanverb (used without object)
-
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)
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
-
have departedperfect
-
has departedperfect
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 8
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
But "King James" announced on June 30 that he would depart the Lakers as a free agent, sparking a frenzy of speculation as to his next team.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Hull are keen on Leon Bailey but that may have to be an initial loan given the Tigers' own finances, while Evann Guessand can also depart.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Despite its suggestive title, the pop star’s third album fails to depart from her well-worn production style and muted vocals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
You generally must purchase this coverage within 21 days of your initial trip payment, and you can’t cancel less than two days before you’re due to depart.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
When at last they felt that the time had come to depart she used her magical knowledge for them.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Obviously with massive spoilers ahoy, here are eight of the biggest ways Nolan’s “Odyssey” departs from Homer’s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
The UK boss of budget airline Wizz Air told the BBC that British holidaymakers should arrive at European airports three hours before their flight home departs.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
Either way, it is unclear whether the bill will make it to the president’s desk before the House departs on July 24 for its August recess.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026
The flight number for an American Airlines flight that departs Philadelphia just before 7 p.m. on July 4th and lands in Boston in time for fireworks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
The door opens and closes as Mr. Redfern departs, and I turn my attention to the sheriff.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
Scott Pelley, one of the show’s longest-serving correspondents, departed after pushing back against the firings, criticizing Weiss and questioning Bilton’s qualifications during a staff meeting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
He also won La Liga in 2016-17, but departed after the following season, saying change was needed at the Bernabeu.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The crew had departed the space station at 2:03 a.m.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
In April and May, all of Saudi seaborne crude exports departed from its Red Sea port of Yanbu, according to Kpler data.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Some of them worshipped nature spirits, gods of particular localities, their own ancestors, and female shamans who spoke with departed spirits and delivered prayers in song.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Second on the list was a West Midlands service from London Euston to Crewe, Cheshire, departing at 17:46, the government figures reveal.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
In 2009, he shocked the legal industry by departing Skadden for Kirkland & Ellis, which at the time had only a nascent mergers-and-acquisitions practice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Much about the grimy parts of Burning Man is left unmentioned, leaving it up to Redditors to gripe about sanitation pile-ups departing Burners leave in nearby towns.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
Then it was off to Western Michigan for O’Leary last season, where he was defensive coordinator — a year of experience in that job before returning to replace the departing Minter for the Chargers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
I suspected she felt bad about departing: If she hadn’t had a dinner date with my aunt, she would have stayed.
From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
