Word
sever
Phoneticssev·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɛvɝ/
UK/sˈɛvɐ/
Definitions
01to cut off physically
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to cut through something completely so that it is no longer attached.
v. to separate a part from a whole by cutting or using sudden force. Transitive — requires a direct object.
“The worker accidentally severed the power cable while digging in the garden.”
“The surgeon was forced to sever the damaged nerve to prevent the spread of the infection to the rest of the limb.”
02to end a relationship
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to end a connection or relationship with someone or something completely.
v. to break off or terminate a relationship, connection, or association abruptly and permanently.
“The company decided to sever all ties with the supplier after the scandal.”
“Following the diplomatic dispute, the two nations moved to sever formal relations and recalled their ambassadors immediately.”
Synonyms
03legal separation
C2 · Proficiency Law Technical · Formal
v. to separate a legal claim or a joint ownership into parts.
v. to divide or separate a legal interest, such as a joint tenancy or a combined court case. Often used in the context of property law or criminal proceedings.
“The judge decided to sever the two cases so they could be tried separately.”
“The co-owners acted to sever the joint tenancy, effectively converting their shared interest into a tenancy in common.”
Antonyms
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object; often used with abstract nouns like 'ties', 'links', or 'relations'.
Pitfall
They severed with the partner
They severed ties with the partner
Sever is transitive and needs a direct object (like 'ties' or 'the connection') before the prepositional phrase.
Real-World Examples
“In 2016, Almodóvar adapted three stories from Munro’s collection Runaway into his film Julieta; one of those stories, Silence, describes a woman who severs contact with her mother, as Munro’s daughter had done.” “And as landslides sever access roads and supplies dwindle in several parts of the island, there are growing concerns about how much longer survivors can hold out.” Etymology
From Middle English severen, from Old French sevrer, from Latin separāre (“to separate”), from se- (“apart”) + parāre (“provide, arrange”). Doublet of separate, from the past participle of that Latin verb.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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