Separated
ˈsɛpəˌreɪtɪd
Definitions
2 meaningsTo divide or keep things apart.
ˈsɛpəˌreɪtɪd
To keep or move apart
The teacher separated the students who were talking.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're taking a pack of cards and splitting it into two piles. Separated means you’ve made a gap between things, like friends deciding to live in different cities or ingredients being taken out of a recipe.
👶 For kids: When you separate things, you put them far away from each other, like when you take your toys and put them in different boxes.
More Examples
We had to separate the ingredients before making the cake.
The jury was separated during the trial to prevent outside influence.
How It's Used
"The couple separated after a long and difficult marriage."
"Scientists separated the elements in the mixture."
Divided or kept apart; no longer together.
ˈsɛpəˌreɪtɪd
Being or having been kept apart
The separated parents shared custody of their child.
💡 Simply: Imagine two friends who used to hang out all the time, but then they had a fight and aren't together anymore. If they’re separated, it means there's distance or a break between them, like if you’re sitting at the table with someone you’re not talking to.
👶 For kids: When things are separated, they are not together anymore, like when you put your blocks in two different piles.
More Examples
The data was stored in separated files for organization.
The items were kept in separated compartments for safety.
How It's Used
"The separated couple started living apart."
"The goods were shipped in separated containers."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
Separate the wheat from the chaff
To distinguish between valuable things and those that are worthless.
"The hiring manager had to separate the wheat from the chaff during the interview process to find the best candidates."
From Latin *separatus*, past participle of *separare* 'to disjoin, divide,' from *se-* 'apart' + *parare* 'to make ready, prepare.'
The word 'separated' has been used in English for centuries, with early uses relating to physical division or detachment.
Memory tip
Think of a zipper; the teeth separate to open or close.