depart
Americanverb (used without object)
-
departs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
departed,
past participle, past
-
departing
present participle
-
to go away; leave.
She departed from Paris today. The train departs at 10:52.
- Antonyms:
- arrive
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to diverge or deviate (usually followed byfrom ).
The new method departs from the old in several respects.
-
to pass away, as from life or existence; die.
verb (used with object)
-
departs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
departed,
past participle, past
-
departing
present participle
noun
verb
-
to go away; leave
-
to start out; set forth
-
(usually foll by from) to deviate; differ; vary
to depart from normal procedure
-
(tr) to quit (archaic, except in the phrase depart this life )
Synonym Usage
Depart, retire, retreat, withdraw imply leaving a place. Depart is a somewhat literary word for going away from a place: to depart on a journey. Retire emphasizes absenting oneself or drawing back from a place: to retire from a position in battle. Retreat implies a necessary withdrawal, especially as a result of adverse fortune in war: to retreat to secondary lines of defense. Withdraw suggests leaving some specific place or situation, usually for some definite and often unpleasant reason: to withdraw from a hopeless task.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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departsimple
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departssimple
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have departedperfect
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has departedperfect
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am departingprogressive
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are departingprogressive
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is departingprogressive
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have been departingperfect progressive
-
has been departingperfect progressive
Past
-
departedsimple
-
had departedperfect
-
was departingprogressive
-
were departingprogressive
-
had been departingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of depart
1175–1225; Middle English departen < Old French departir, equivalent to de- de- + partir to go away; see part ( v. )
Explanation
To depart is to go away or to choose a different direction. If you are catching a plane, you are soon to depart. And, if you are wearing a kilt instead of jeans, you depart from your usual look. Airports and train stations have gates for arrivals and departures. Airplanes and people coming in "arrive" while those going out depart. You also can depart without going anywhere, as when you change your mind and depart from an earlier decision. To "depart from the norm" is an expression for doing something different than expected, like giggling during a tear-jerker of a movie.
Vocabulary lists containing depart
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 8
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The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
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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.
See Examples For:
The two-time major winner is expected to be among a number of players who will depart with the intention of finding a way back on to the PGA Tour.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
The Rams will depart for Australia on Tuesday night for their season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Gracie Cochrane will depart from her role as Ginny Weasley due to ‘unforeseen circumstances.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
The company’s existing U.S. marketing chief will depart in the coming weeks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
Dean left, looking as though he was not sorry to depart the scene.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
Andrew Tulloch departs Meta less than a year after he was offered a billion-dollar pay package.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
But this version of “A Different World” departs from its source material in its narrative format and tone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
He boards a legacy Air Force One, but secretly transfers to a smaller military aircraft and departs Turkey.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
While Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have scored regularly at this tournament, Salah departs with just one goal to show for his efforts.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
As the train departs and shadowy London pinches smaller behind us, a chill prickles at the back of my neck.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
The still-smouldering ferry, which originally departed from Manila, sits about a kilometre from Coron after running aground just off a smaller island.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
In an operation with a degree of military precision, the small fleet of lorries departed for Dover just after sunrise, where the men staged an intimidating show of strength near the port.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Like the Rams will do Tuesday, the four players departed on late-night flights.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
PSG, who had never lifted the trophy before, have won it both seasons since Mbappe departed.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
So the following afternoon, as soon as Mrs Wormwood had departed in her car for another session of bingo, Matilda set out for Fred's house to investigate.
From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl
Most stay for about eight months before departing ahead of Kashmir's harsh winter, when construction slows and agricultural activity dwindles.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
The second season of “The Pitt” currently stands as the favorite for drama series, while the comedy series category is a battle between new series “Widow’s Bay” and departing series “Hacks.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
With few aircraft able to take off, it is understood landings are being restricted, leading to some flights being prevented from departing from overseas airports.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
As long as no new government is sworn into office, the departing CDU state premier would continue to govern in a caretaker capacity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
Casso Mogat had waited four days instead of three before departing.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
