depart
dih-PAHT
Depart (verb) means to leave a place, especially to begin a journey. Example: “The train departs from platform 4 at nine o'clock.”
verb
1
To leave a place, especially to begin a journey.
"The train departs from platform 4 at nine o'clock."
"They departed for the airport before sunrise."
"Flights to Dublin depart every hour from the main terminal."
2
To differ from or move away from a plan, rule, or usual way of doing something.
"The director departed from the original script in the final act."
How to use depart
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo leave somewhere, or to go against the usual plan or pattern.
When to use it
More formal than "leave" — commonly used for trains, flights, and formal announcements.
Common pairings
depart from
the train departs
depart for
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- departs
- Past tense
- departed
- Archaic forms
- departest, departedst, departeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The train _____ from platform 4 at nine o'clock.
Etymology
From Old French departir, from Late Latin departire ("to divide"), from de- ("away") and partire ("to part, divide").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “depart” mean?
The word “depart” means to leave a place, especially to begin a journey. In plain terms, to leave somewhere, or to go against the usual plan or pattern.
How do you pronounce “depart”?
“Depart” is pronounced dih-PAHT (/dɪˈpɑɹt/ in IPA).
How do you use “depart” in a sentence?
Here is “depart” used in a sentence: “The train departs from platform 4 at nine o'clock.”
What is the opposite of “depart”?
The opposite of “depart” — its antonyms — are arrive, come, stay, live and conform.
What part of speech is “depart”?
“Depart” is a verb.
Where does the word “depart” come from?
The word “depart” comes from Late Latin. From Old French departir, from Late Latin departire ("to divide"), from de- ("away") and partire ("to part, divide").
Is “depart” a common word?
“Depart” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “depart” have?
“Depart” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to leave a place, especially to begin a journey.
What is the difference between depart and leave?
Depart and leave both mean to go away from a place, but depart is more formal and is typically used in written notices, travel announcements, and official contexts, while leave is the everyday, general-purpose word. For example, flight and train schedules use "depart," but in casual speech people usually say "leave."
What preposition follows depart when talking about a plan or rule?</q>
When depart means to differ from or move away from a plan, rule, or usual way of doing something, it is typically followed by "from," as in "depart from tradition" or "depart from the agreed procedure." This figurative sense is distinct from its literal meaning of physically leaving a place.
Is depart transitive or intransitive?
Depart is normally used intransitively, meaning it does not take a direct object, as in "the train departs at noon" rather than "the train departs the station." When a destination or origin is mentioned, it is usually introduced with a preposition such as "from" or "for."
