separate
verb (used with object)
to keep apart or divide, as by an intervening barrier or space.
had separated
-
past perfectof separate.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Just one day later, the enormous ice island had separated from the glacier's eastern side.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026
The child had lived with his grandparents since he was two years old after his parents had separated, he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
By 01:00 BST, police had separated the protesters into two groups and slowly pushed them to each end of the road.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Goltes deleted photos of her and Doncic from her Instagram account and Doncic acknowledged that they had separated.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her.
From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
