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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Beads and sequins, whether glued on or delicately sown, can detach, melt, or lose their shape. Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2025 This meant the placenta was detaching from the uterus without obvious symptoms like heavy bleeding. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025 Decking With outdoor decking, the problem is usually boards that have completely detached from the deck framing. Clark Hodgin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 An invitation to discover, deconstruct, and deepen my identity as a Black woman detached from my labor, service, and the white gaze of Texas’s capital city. Virginia Cumberbatch, Essence, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for detach

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Detach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detach. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on detach

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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