apart
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adv.separated by a distance or a length of time.
adv.separated by a specific distance in space or an interval in time.
Simple“The two houses were built about fifty metres apart on the hill.”
In context“The two incidents occurred only a few days apart, leading investigators to believe they were orchestrated by the same group.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
adv.into smaller parts or pieces.
adv.into separate pieces or components; often used with verbs of destruction or disassembly.
Simple“The old book fell apart as soon as I tried to open it.”
In context“The engineer carefully took the engine apart to identify which specific component had caused the mechanical failure.”
Synonymsasunderto piecesAntonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
adv.living or being in different places rather than together.
adv.existing or acting independently; not in each other's company.
Simple“They decided to live apart for a while to think about their future.”
In context“Although they worked for the same firm, they managed their projects entirely apart to avoid any conflict of interest.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adv.not including a specific person or thing.
adv.with the exception of; used postpositively to exclude a factor from consideration.
Simple“Joking apart, we really need to finish this work by tonight.”
In context“Cost considerations apart, the environmental impact of the new factory remains the primary concern for the local council.”
Synonymsaside fromexcept forAntonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
adj.different from others or set away from the main group.
adj.distinct, separate, or unique in quality; often used to describe something that stands out from a category.
Simple“Her talent for music set her apart from the other students.”
In context“The quality of the brushwork in this particular landscape stands apart from the artist's earlier, more commercial efforts.”
UsageOften follows the noun it modifies or appears after the verb 'set'.
apart vs a part — Apart describes things being separated or distant, while a part refers to a single piece of a larger whole.
From Middle English apart, aparte, a-part, a part, from Anglo-Norman a part, from Latin ad partem (“to the side”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.