# apart

/əˈpɑɹt/ (US) · /ɐpˈɑːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/apart
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. separated by space or time

adverb · CEFR B1

separated by a distance or a length of time.

For teachers: separated by a specific distance in space or an interval in time.

- The two houses were built about fifty metres apart on the hill.
- The two incidents occurred only a few days apart, leading investigators to believe they were orchestrated by the same group.

### 2. into pieces

adverb · CEFR B1

into smaller parts or pieces.

For teachers: into separate pieces or components; often used with verbs of destruction or disassembly.

- The old book fell apart as soon as I tried to open it.
- The engineer carefully took the engine apart to identify which specific component had caused the mechanical failure.

### 3. not together

adverb · CEFR B1

living or being in different places rather than together.

For teachers: existing or acting independently; not in each other's company.

- They decided to live apart for a while to think about their future.
- Although they worked for the same firm, they managed their projects entirely apart to avoid any conflict of interest.

### 4. excluding something

adverb · CEFR B2

not including a specific person or thing.

For teachers: with the exception of; used postpositively to exclude a factor from consideration.

- Joking apart, we really need to finish this work by tonight.
- Cost considerations apart, the environmental impact of the new factory remains the primary concern for the local council.

### 5. distinct or special

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

different from others or set away from the main group.

For teachers: distinct, separate, or unique in quality; often used to describe something that stands out from a category.

- Her talent for music set her apart from the other students.
- The quality of the brushwork in this particular landscape stands apart from the artist's earlier, more commercial efforts.

Usage: Often follows the noun it modifies or appears after the verb 'set'.

## Examples

- The two houses are about fifty meters apart.
- Even though they live in different countries, the sisters never feel truly apart because they talk every day.
- The architect designed the pillars to stand exactly three meters apart, ensuring the structural load was distributed evenly across the foundation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.