detach

verb

de·​tach di-ˈtach How to pronounce detach (audio)
dē-
detached; detaching; detaches

transitive verb

1
: to separate especially from a larger mass and usually without violence or damage
2
detachability noun
detachable adjective
detachably adverb

Examples of detach in a Sentence

Detach the upper part of the form and return it with your payment. During the accident the trailer was detached from the car. The brush detaches from the vacuum cleaner for easy cleaning. It can be difficult to detach yourself from the chaos of the situation. She has been trying to detach herself from an abusive relationship.
Recent Examples on the Web If the panel continued to separate then, in a rare case, the panel could detach from the vehicle which could become a hazard to other road users, BMW told NHTSA. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 Join 2 others in the comments View Comments Never use water, glass cleaner, baby wipes or other wet wipes to clean eclipse glasses — the moisture could cause the cardboard frames to detach from the lenses. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 The home and detached poolside guesthouse, contemporary versions of a classic Napa Valley farmhouse, together offer five bedrooms and five and a half baths in about 6,000 square feet. Mark David, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2024 The front part of the platform has a docking area where a two-seater scooter can be attached or detached. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2024 Another theory is that intense physical activity may cause Botox to detach from your muscle receptors faster, thus weakening its durability, says Dr. Chiu. Jenny McCoy, SELF, 15 Feb. 2024 Such standards require that a gate cannot fall more than 45 degrees from a vertical plane when it’s detached. Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024 As for me, detaching my identity as a Ghanaian woman from my body is an ongoing practice. Annie Blay, Allure, 22 Feb. 2024 After burning through its fuel, the rocket detached from Odie, leaving the lunar lander to fly solo through space. Jackie Wattles, CNN, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'detach.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French détacher, from Old French destachier, from des- de- + -tachier (as in atachier to attach)

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of detach was in 1686

Dictionary Entries Near detach

Cite this Entry

“Detach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detach. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

detach

verb
de·​tach di-ˈtach How to pronounce detach (audio)
: to separate especially from a larger mass and usually without violence or damage
detachable adjective
detachably adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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