parting

American  

[pahr-ting] / ˈpɑr tɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that parts.

2. a division or separation.

3. a place of division or separation.

4. a departure or leave-taking.

5. death.

6. something that serves to part or separate things.

7. Mineralogy. a fracture of a crystal along a plane determined by twinning or pressure rather than along a cleavage plane.

8. Metallurgy. parting line.

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adjective

1. given, happening, taken, done, etc., at parting.

   a parting glance.

2. of or relating to parting, leave-taking, departure, or death.

   parting words.

3. ending or taking leave.

   the parting day.

4. dying.

5. dividing or separating.

parting British  

/ ˈpɑːtɪŋ /

noun

1. US, Canadian, and Austral equivalent: part.  the line of scalp showing when sections of hair are combed in opposite directions

2. the act of separating or the state of being separated

3. 1. a departure or leave-taking, esp one causing a final separation

   2. ( as modifier )

      a parting embrace

4. a place or line of separation or division

5. chem a division of a crystal along a plane that is not a cleavage plane

6. a euphemism for death

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adjective

1. literary departing

   the parting day

2. serving to divide or separate

Etymology

Origin of parting

1250–1300; Middle English partyng (gerund). See part, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Actress-turned-talk show host Drew Barrymoreis parting ways with her historical Westchester retreat after putting the sprawling property on the market for $4.99 million—just two years after she bought it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Actress-turned-talk show host Drew Barrymoreis parting ways with her historical Westchester retreat after putting the sprawling abode on the market for $4.99 million—just two years after she bought it.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

His parting message was about unfinished business at the Fed.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

"It is important that the new leader gets clear air, something that is not always afforded to leaders," she said, a parting jab at her successor.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

Penelope used her firmest voice, for she could sense some resistance from the Incorrigibles about parting with their new pets.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• breakup