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 abode on the market for $4.99 million—just two years after she bought it.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

In his parting remarks during that speech, he expressed confidence in the new leadership team of D’Amaro and Dana Walden, who is now president and chief creative officer of the company.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Still, mistakes happen and he is quick to address them by parting ways with people who aren’t a good fit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

His parting message was about unfinished business at the Fed.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

A great white cow was fording through the river of traffic, vehicles parting to let it through.

From "The Bridge Home" by Padma Venkatraman

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