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 But it is completely detached from reality on the ground. The Editors, National Review, 15 Mar. 2024 The front windshield and rear window may not be properly secured and can detach. USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 Transplant as soon as possible, having dug a hole twice as wide and the same depth as the rootball before it was detached from the earth. Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024 The quick explanation: sleeves were detached at the time. André Wheeler, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Rameau said the tone of the message was impersonal, detached and did not sound like Knezevich. Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024 The school, meant to detach children from their cultures and families, acted as a day school for the nearby Hualapai children, and as a longer-term boarding school for Apache, Havasupai, Hopi, Mojave, Navajo and Papago children. Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024 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

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 28 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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