departed
Americanadjective
-
deceased; dead.
-
gone; past.
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of departed
Explanation
Something that's departed is gone, or happened in the distant past. An archaeologist might unearth artifacts from a departed era. Anything that's past or long gone is departed, including a person who has died. When your friend talks about her dear, departed Uncle Bob, you know that Uncle Bob is no longer living. The word has been a euphemism for "dead" since at least the 16th century — the traditional wedding service once read "till death us depart," rather than today's "till death do us part."
Vocabulary lists containing departed
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
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Shine On, Luz Véliz!
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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.
Robertson said there was no dispute Patel's actions had seriously departed from professional standards but submitted the relationship was instigated by Patient A and "largely driven by her through the ongoing threats and blackmail".
From BBC • May 21, 2026
Clark said the hantavirus species behind the cruise ship outbreak that triggered a global health scare after three people died was known to be endemic in the area of Argentina where the ship departed from.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
Investigators believe the train departed from Long Beach Thursday, May 7, making its way east toward Texas.
From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2026
The New Corolla departed Basra a few days before the U.S. and Israel first attacked Iran, passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Feb. 28.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
Their first overseas assignment was a big one: The husband-and-wife team departed for Moscow to become Paul Stombaugh's replacement.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
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.
