English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
verb B2 Upper-Intermediate

detach

dih-TACH

Detach (verb) means to remove or separate something from what it was attached to. Example: “Detach the coupon along the dotted line.”

verb
1
To remove or separate something from what it was attached to.
"Detach the coupon along the dotted line."
"He detached the trailer from the car."

How to use detach

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo take something off or apart from what it was joined to.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
detach from easily detach detach a part

Word forms

detached past tense, detaches singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “detach” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ the coupon along the dotted line.

Etymology

From Old French destachier — from the same root as "attach", by adding the negating prefix "de-".

Origin: Old French

unfasten deadhere earmark

Antonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “detach” mean?

The word “detach” means to remove or separate something from what it was attached to. In plain terms, to take something off or apart from what it was joined to.

How do you pronounce “detach”?

“Detach” is pronounced dih-TACH (/dɪˈtæt͡ʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “detach” in a sentence?

Here is “detach” used in a sentence: “Detach the coupon along the dotted line.”

What is another word for “detach”?

Words with a similar meaning to “detach” include unfasten, deadhere and earmark.

What is the opposite of “detach”?

The opposite of “detach” — its antonyms — is attach.

What part of speech is “detach”?

“Detach” is a verb.

Where does the word “detach” come from?

The word “detach” comes from Old French. From Old French destachier — from the same root as "attach", by adding the negating prefix "de-".

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial