departure
12 synonyms and 1 antonym for departure, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of leaving a place, especially at the start of a journey.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use departure
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
departure lounge
departure time
a departure from tradition
Etymology
From Old French deportëure, related to "depart" — originally could also mean "death," a sense that still lingers in phrases like "her sad departure."
Full origin of departure →Frequently asked questions
What does “departure” mean?
The word “departure” means the act of leaving a place, especially at the start of a journey. In plain terms, leaving somewhere, or a noticeable change from the usual approach.
How do you pronounce “departure”?
“Departure” is pronounced dih-PAHT-yuh (/dɪˈpɑː(ɹ)tjə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “departure” in a sentence?
Here is “departure” used in a sentence: “Passengers should arrive two hours before departure.”
What is another word for “departure”?
Words with a similar meaning to “departure” include leaving and exit.
What is the opposite of “departure”?
The opposite of “departure” — its antonyms — is arrival.
What part of speech is “departure”?
“Departure” is a noun.
Where does the word “departure” come from?
The word “departure” comes from Old French. From Old French deportëure, related to "depart" — originally could also mean "death," a sense that still lingers in phrases like "her sad departure.".
Is “departure” a common word?
“Departure” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "departure" and "arrival"?
"Departure" is the act of leaving a place, especially at the start of a journey, while "arrival" is reaching the destination. Airports and stations list departures for outgoing services and arrivals for incoming ones.
What preposition follows "departure"?
"Departure" is usually followed by "from," as in "departure from the airport" or "a departure from routine." The preposition works for both the travel sense and the change-of-plan sense.
What is the difference between "departure" and "exit"?
"Departure" refers to the act of leaving, especially the start of a journey, while "exit" refers to the way out or the act of going out of a place. You check a flight's departure time, but you leave a building through an exit.
