ENGLISH
REFERENCE

separating

v.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈsɛpɝˌeɪtɪŋ// UK //sˈɛpəɹˌeɪtɪŋ// sep·a·rat·ing

v. moving things apart so they are no longer touching or together. You use this when you divide a group into smaller parts or keep two things away from each other.

v. the present participle of 'separate', meaning to move or keep apart; to divide into constituent parts or distinct groups. Transitive when an agent acts on objects; intransitive when describing a process of detachment.


SIMPLE

She is separating the white clothes from the dark ones.

CONTEXTUAL

The chef is separating the egg yolks from the whites to make a light meringue.

COMPLEX

By separating the experimental variables from the control group, the researchers ensured that the final data reflected only the impact of the new medication.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

Often takes the preposition 'from' to indicate the things being moved apart.

Pitfall

separating the two parts between each otherseparating the two parts from each otherThe verb 'separate' typically pairs with 'from' to show division, not 'between'.

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