separate

To cause people or things to move apart or stop being together.

• Store employees moved quickly to separate the two angry customers.

• Have you ever tried to separate two dogs that were fighting?

To divide something into parts or groups, or to form a boundary between two things or areas.

• A tall wooden fence separates the front yard from the driveway.

• The recycling program asks residents to separate glass from paper.

To distinguish or set apart one thing or person from another based on quality or characteristic.

• Attention to fine detail is what separates great designers from average ones.

• Does raw talent alone separate elite athletes from the rest of the pack?

To stop living together as a married couple, often before getting a divorce.

• After months of counseling, the couple decided to separate amicably last fall.

• They separated three years ago but have not yet filed paperwork.

Not joined, connected, or shared with another thing.

• The guest house has a separate entrance on the side of the building.

• Does each guest get a separate room?

Different and not related to each other.

• The committee reviewed three separate proposals before making a final choice.

• These findings are based on two entirely separate investigations.