1
: of or relating to a part rather than the whole : not general or total
a partial solution
a partial payment
2
3
: markedly fond of someone or something
—used with to
partial to pizza
She's partial to tall men with blond hair.
Synonyms
Examples of partial in a Sentence
Adjective
These plants prefer full sun or partial shade.
The partial ban on immigration has been lifted.
His latest play was deemed only a partial success by the critics.
a partial eclipse of the sun
He wears a partial denture.
She suggested a partial solution to the problem.
A referee must not be partial toward either team.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 20 Apr. 2024
This full moon is also a partial lunar eclipse, according to the experts at NASA, an imperfect alignment of the sun, Earth and moon that results in the moon passing through only part of Earth's umbra.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Apr. 2024
No charges were brought, and President Joe Biden’s victory over Trump has withstood a nonpartisan audit, numerous lawsuits, a partial recount and a review by a conservative law firm.
—Scott Bauer, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2024
Chewing food, even without swallowing, helps to activate the cephalic phase, triggering a partial sense of satiation.
—Andrew Chapman, Longreads, 18 Apr. 2024
The species went extinct about a million years ago and is known from partial skeletons found in Europe, Asia and Africa.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
The winner in each district will serve partial terms running through the end of the year, as the seats will again be up for grabs in the November election this year.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 16 Apr. 2024
Connecticut Individuals and businesses in New London County as well as the Tribal Nations of Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot have until June 17 to file and pay after storms caused a partial dam breach in January.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Even better, while this month’s solar eclipse was only a partial eclipse in Boise, Idahoans will be able to watch the Lyrids in their full glory.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2024
David Quammen, New York Times, 25 July 2023
Featuring three bedrooms, three full bathrooms and one partial, the home was recently listed by Cynthia Bigelow of Sotheby's International Realty.
—Shacamree Gowdy, Chron, 21 May 2021
The 24th pick of the second round (Shane Vereen) got one full guarantee and one partial.
—Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 21 May 2022
The free services provided by dentists from South Florida including cleanings, fillings, extractions, pediatric dentistry, root canals, and a limited number of dentures and partials.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2023
After a partial reopening in 2016, it was closed again in 2020 for the final phase of the work, which included the restoration of the frescoes and the floor and colonnades.
—Francesco Sportelli, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2023
After a partial reopening in 2016, it was closed again in 2020 for the final phase of the work, which included restoration of the frescoes and of the floor and colonnades.
—Francesco Sportelli, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2023
Predictions range from a partial to a full collapse.
—Erin Somers, The Atlantic, 18 Nov. 2022
Now the administration wants to allow more types of payments to qualify for the forgiveness program, including lump-sum, partial, and late payments.
—Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, BostonGlobe.com, 6 July 2022
Adjective
Hybrid annual monkey flowers, although somewhat thirsty and, come summer, desirous of partial shade, are stunningly colorful, appearing in violet, orange, yellow, pink, and red.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 20 Apr. 2024
This full moon is also a partial lunar eclipse, according to the experts at NASA, an imperfect alignment of the sun, Earth and moon that results in the moon passing through only part of Earth's umbra.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Apr. 2024
No charges were brought, and President Joe Biden’s victory over Trump has withstood a nonpartisan audit, numerous lawsuits, a partial recount and a review by a conservative law firm.
—Scott Bauer, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2024
Chewing food, even without swallowing, helps to activate the cephalic phase, triggering a partial sense of satiation.
—Andrew Chapman, Longreads, 18 Apr. 2024
The species went extinct about a million years ago and is known from partial skeletons found in Europe, Asia and Africa.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
The winner in each district will serve partial terms running through the end of the year, as the seats will again be up for grabs in the November election this year.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 16 Apr. 2024
Connecticut Individuals and businesses in New London County as well as the Tribal Nations of Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot have until June 17 to file and pay after storms caused a partial dam breach in January.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Even better, while this month’s solar eclipse was only a partial eclipse in Boise, Idahoans will be able to watch the Lyrids in their full glory.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2024
Noun
The journals’ reviewers wanted complete genome sequences, but the team had only partials.
—David Quammen, New York Times, 25 July 2023
Featuring three bedrooms, three full bathrooms and one partial, the home was recently listed by Cynthia Bigelow of Sotheby's International Realty.
—Shacamree Gowdy, Chron, 21 May 2021
The 24th pick of the second round (Shane Vereen) got one full guarantee and one partial.
—Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 21 May 2022
The free services provided by dentists from South Florida including cleanings, fillings, extractions, pediatric dentistry, root canals, and a limited number of dentures and partials.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2023
After a partial reopening in 2016, it was closed again in 2020 for the final phase of the work, which included the restoration of the frescoes and the floor and colonnades.
—Francesco Sportelli, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2023
After a partial reopening in 2016, it was closed again in 2020 for the final phase of the work, which included restoration of the frescoes and of the floor and colonnades.
—Francesco Sportelli, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2023
Predictions range from a partial to a full collapse.
—Erin Somers, The Atlantic, 18 Nov. 2022
Now the administration wants to allow more types of payments to qualify for the forgiveness program, including lump-sum, partial, and late payments.
—Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, BostonGlobe.com, 6 July 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'partial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near partial
Cite this Entry
“Partial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/partial. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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