departed
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.a polite way to say that someone is dead.
adj.used as a euphemism to refer to a person who has died.
Simple“They gathered to share stories and remember their departed friend.”
In context“The solicitor spent the afternoon reviewing the departed client's final wishes to ensure the estate was distributed according to the will.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it describes.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.people who have died, often used when talking about them with respect.
n.a collective noun referring to those who have died, typically used in a religious or ceremonial context.
Simple“The community held a special ceremony to honour the dearly departed.”
In context“The priest offered a prayer for the departed, asking for peace and remembrance during the memorial service.”
UsageAlmost always preceded by 'the' and often modified by 'dearly'.
Synonymsthe deceasedthe deadAntonymsthe living - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having left a place or no longer being present.
adj.having left or gone away; no longer present in a specific location or state.
Simple“The summer was departed, and the first cold winds of autumn began to blow.”
In context“By the time the investigators arrived at the scene, the mysterious guests were long departed, leaving no trace of their identity.”
Teacher's tipIn modern English, people usually just say 'gone' or 'left' unless they want to sound very poetic.
“Durham Regional Police say the senior citizen departed from Oshawa Airport at 8:30 a.m.”
“Like Griezmann, Robert Lewandowski has departed for Major League Soccer in the US, and there is still a gap up front while Atlético stand firm on Álvarez.”