Showing results for "departed"

• past tense form of depart.
• past participle of depart.

departed

American  

[dih-pahr-tid] / dɪˈpɑr tɪd /

adjective

1. deceased; dead.

2. gone; past.

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noun

departeds plural

1. the departed,

   1. the dead person referred to.

   2. dead persons collectively.

departed British  

/ dɪˈpɑːtɪd /

adjective

1. euphemistic

   1. dead; deceased

   2. ( as sing or collective noun; preceded by the )

      the departed

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undeparted
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• departeds
  plural

Etymology

Origin of departed

First recorded in 1550–60; depart + -ed ²

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."

Example Sentences

The day after Villafranca departed the country, immigration agents came for Yepez.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026

Trump departed Washington for the key summit late Monday, travelling with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in tow.

From Barron's • Jul. 7, 2026

Several teachers at her son’s school have departed, but none of her friends has decided to leave for good.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026

There’s a show, in fact, that precisely encapsulates that experience: “South Side,” a departed Comedy Central treat that encapsulates life in Chicago in all its sweaty glory.

From Salon • Jul. 1, 2026

He departed for the kitchen to boil huge vats of water, most of which was never used.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Related Words

• deceased