depart

[ dih-pahrt ]

verb (used without object)

1. to go away; leave:

   She departed from Paris today. The train departs at 10:52.

   Antonyms: arrive

2. to diverge or deviate (usually followed by from ):

   The new method departs from the old in several respects.

3. to pass away, as from life or existence; die.

verb (used with object)

1. to go away from; leave:

   to depart this life.

   Synonyms: quit

noun

1. Archaic. departure; death.

depart

/ dɪˈpɑːt /

verb

1. to go away; leave
2. to start out; set forth
3. usually foll by from to deviate; differ; vary

   to depart from normal procedure

4. tr to quit (archaic, except in the phrase depart this life )

Other Words From

• unde·parting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of depart¹

1175–1225; Middle English departen < Old French departir, equivalent to de- de- + partir to go away; part ( v. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of depart¹

C13: from Old French departir, from de- + partir to go away, divide, from Latin partīrī to divide, distribute, from pars a part

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Data from Ms Riley's smartwatch showed she had "fought for her life, fought for her dignity" only minutes after departing on her run, the trial heard.

From BBC

Wales are also currently without a women's head coach after Ioan Cunningham departed following poor results and another recent off-the-field controversy involving players' contracts.

From BBC

After departing the White House, Sanders went on to win the race for Arkansas governor.

From BBC

If you are booking a coach package, the next step will be to choose the time, date and place you will depart from.

From BBC

While it works to allow more housing — the lack of which economists say is the underlying cause of the affordability crisis — the city is taking steps to increase protections for departing tenants.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abandon
• blast off
• disappear
• escape
• evacuate
• exit
• go
• pull out
• quit
• remove
• retire
• vacate
• withdraw