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depart

v.
US //dɪˈpɑɹt// UK //dɪpˈɑːt// de·part
  1. 1 to leave a place (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to leave a place, especially to start a journey.

    to leave or go away from a location, typically to begin a journey. Intransitive, though occasionally used transitively in formal travel contexts.

    Example

    The train is scheduled to depart from platform four in ten minutes.

    Example

    The delegation is expected to depart for the summit early tomorrow morning, provided the weather conditions remain stable for the flight.
  2. 2 to do something differently (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    to change from a usual way of doing things or a standard plan.

    to deviate from an established rule, tradition, or course of action. Usually followed by the preposition 'from'.

    Example

    For this project, we decided to depart from our usual design style.

    Example

    The director chose to depart from the original script, introducing a controversial ending that sparked significant debate among critics.
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  1. 3 to die (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Literary

    a very formal or polite way to say someone has died.

    to die; used as a formal or euphemistic alternative to 'pass away'. Often used in the form 'the departed' to refer to the dead.

    Example

    The local priest spoke kindly of those who had departed this life.

    Example

    In his final letters, the poet wrote calmly about his readiness to depart this world, viewing death as a natural conclusion to his work.
  2. 4 aviation loss of control (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    when a plane stops flying in a controlled way and starts to fall or spin.

    to lose control of an aircraft, resulting in a departure from controlled flight. Used both transitively and intransitively within the industry.

    Example

    The pilot struggled to regain control after the aircraft began to depart.

    Example

    The investigation concluded that the jet departed controlled flight due to a sudden mechanical failure in the tail section.

    Usage

    In technical aviation contexts, the aircraft is often the subject that 'departs' from its flight path.
Origin

From Old French departir, from Late Latin departiō (“to divide”), from dē- (“away from”) + partiō (“part, divide”).

Idioms1 entry

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