part
paht
Part (noun) means a piece or portion of something larger. Example: “Only part of the cake was left by the time we arrived.”
noun
1
A piece or portion of something larger.
"Only part of the cake was left by the time we arrived."
"The engine needs a replacement part."
"The front part of the garden gets sun all morning."
2
A role played by an actor, or someone's share of responsibility in something.
"She landed the lead part in the school play."
"He admitted his part in the mistake."
"Everyone in the team played a part in finishing the project on time."
verb
1
To separate from someone or something, or to divide something into pieces.
"They parted at the station without saying goodbye properly."
"He parted the crowd to reach the front."
"The curtains parted slowly as the show began."
adv
1
Partly; to some degree.
"The dish was part Italian, part something entirely his own."
"The story is part true and part invented by my grandfather."
"I was part amused, part annoyed by his excuse."
How to use part
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA piece of something whole, a role you play, or (as a verb) to separate.
Common pairings
take part in
part ways
for the most part
do your part
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like part.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- parts
- Third person singular
- parts
- Past tense
- parted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Only _____ of the cake was left by the time we arrived.
Etymology
From Old French part and Old English part, both ultimately from Latin pars, "piece, share, role."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for part
See all rhymes for part →Frequently asked questions
What does “part” mean?
The word “part” means a piece or portion of something larger. In plain terms, a piece of something whole, a role you play, or (as a verb) to separate.
How do you pronounce “part”?
“Part” is pronounced paht (/pɑɹt/ in IPA).
How do you use “part” in a sentence?
Here is “part” used in a sentence: “Only part of the cake was left by the time we arrived.”
What part of speech is “part”?
Depending on how it is used, “part” can be a noun, a verb and an adverb.
Where does the word “part” come from?
The word “part” comes from Latin. From Old French part and Old English part, both ultimately from Latin pars, "piece, share, role.".
Is “part” a common word?
“Part” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “part” have?
“Part” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a piece or portion of something larger.
What is the difference between a part and a whole?
A part is a single piece of something larger, while the whole is that complete thing made up of all its parts. A slice is part of a cake; the entire cake is the whole. Parts combine to form the whole, and removing one leaves the whole incomplete.
What is the difference between part and portion?
The words overlap, but a 'part' is any piece of a larger thing — a part of a machine or a story. A 'portion' usually means an amount allotted or served, especially of food or a share — 'a portion of chips,' 'her portion of the profits.' Portion stresses a measured or assigned amount.
What are some examples of a part?
A wheel is part of a car, a chapter is part of a book, and a petal is part of a flower. In each case, something smaller belongs to a larger whole. The word also covers non-physical things — a part of a plan, a part of your life, or a role in a play.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include part:
