sever
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to separate (a part) from the whole, as by cutting or the like.
-
to divide into parts, especially forcibly; cleave.
-
to break off or dissolve (ties, relations, etc.).
-
Law. to divide into parts; disunite (an estate, titles of a statute, etc.).
-
to distinguish; discriminate between.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to put or be put apart; separate
-
to divide or be divided into parts
-
(tr) to break off or dissolve (a tie, relationship, etc)
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
seversimple
-
severssimple
-
have severedperfect
-
has severedperfect
-
am severingprogressive
-
are severingprogressive
-
is severingprogressive
-
have been severingperfect progressive
-
has been severingperfect progressive
Past
-
severedsimple
-
had severedperfect
-
was severingprogressive
-
were severingprogressive
-
had been severingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sever
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English severen, from Middle French sev(e)rer; see separate
Explanation
To sever something is to cut it off from the whole. If your girlfriend breaks up with you on your anniversary, you might respond by severing the blossoms off the roses you were planning to give her. (Just an idea.) Sever rhymes with ever, but it looks like the word severe, which means "harsh." The similarity between sever and severe is a good reminder to reserve sever for harsh, unpleasant circumstances. If you’re trimming your fingernails, you might use the word clip, but sever wouldn’t be appropriate. If, however, you somehow cut off your finger while clipping your fingernails, you’re free to use the word sever — or any other word you like — on your way to the hospital.
Vocabulary lists containing sever
Unit 2: Pivotal Words and Phrases
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!
Beowulf vocabulary
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!
Beowulf: A New Telling
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:
Eventually they confront a bigger crisis, one that threatens to sever their seemingly unbreakable bond.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Now, however, it seems Quaid is ready to sever his remaining ties to California, putting his dwelling on the market for just over $1 million more than he paid for it nearly 10 years ago.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
But for all their anger at being caught in the middle of a war they didn't want and tried hard to avoid, Vaez doubts any are ready to sever their ties with the US military.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
When the opera company requested the Kennedy Center remedy the issue, center officials asked to sever ties.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
He was dying—of that, he was certain—but he wondered how long it would take for his body to really sever from this world.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
For LGBTQ+ Christians, it can be a spiritual one, a forced concealment that severs them from authentic relationships with communities they love and were raised in, and with God.
From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026
“The Last of Us” “There’s nothing smarter than ‘Severance,’ a dystopian thriller where employees of the secretive Lumon Industries undergo a surgical procedure that mentally severs their work memories from their personal life.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2025
It follows workers at a megacorporation who submit to a procedure that severs their work memories from their personal ones, and it gets wildly weird.
From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2025
The collapse severs the southern stretch of Interstate 695, the portion of the Baltimore Beltway that runs through the heavily industrial areas around the port.
From New York Times ● Mar. 26, 2024
In the Greek myth of Prometheus the gift of fire forever severs humankind from the natural world—the burning torch is the icon of the constructed and artificial.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Foam pieces from the copter’s main rotor blade and a severed bird wing were discovered about 2,000 feet northwest of the crash site, according to the documents.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
Dozens of mostly smaller law enforcement agencies have severed their ties to Flock in recent months.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Inside, we perfected our power snap—the subtle whipping motion at the end of the cast—with severed rod handles, looking more like budding wizards than fishermen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
"We have not severed ties with South Africa, we are still engaging them at the highest level, we will sort those details using our usual diplomatic channels," he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
I no longer felt like a vital organ of the body — the heart, lungs, or backbone — but a severed limb.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Alongside the screenshots of her comments in the group chat, she shared a February 2025 exchange with Stenberg that shows the author severing ties with the actor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
“If you say that, you risk severing your relationship with your parent.”
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
Not the part about severing ties to the British crown; that was a fine idea.
From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026
"Yet ongoing clashes are driving mass displacement, pushing exposed contacts into overcrowded camps and severing critical containment corridors," he added.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
Twelve of the thirteen colonies voted in favor of severing all ties to the British throne.
From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone
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.
