ENGLISH
REFERENCE

separated

v.
A2 Elementary US //ˈsɛpɝˌeɪtɪd// UK //sˈɛpəɹˌeɪtɪd// sep·a·rat·ed

v. to move things apart so they are no longer touching or together. You can also use it when people stop living together but are not yet divorced.

v. to move or keep apart; to divide into constituent parts or distinct groups. Often used in the passive voice to describe the status of a married couple no longer living together.


SIMPLE

The teacher separated the two students who were talking.

CONTEXTUAL

After years of arguing, the couple decided to get separated before filing for a legal divorce.

COMPLEX

The centrifuge rotates at high speeds to ensure the plasma is completely separated from the red blood cells for medical analysis.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive when moving objects, but often used intransitively or in the passive voice when referring to social relationships.

Pitfall

They separated from each other since two years.They have been separated for two years.When describing a state that started in the past and continues now, use the present perfect with 'for', not 'since' with a duration.

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