detach

verb

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

transitive verb

1
: to separate especially from a larger mass and usually without violence or damage
2
: disengage, withdraw
detachability
di-ˌta-chə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce detach (audio)
dē-
noun
detachable
di-ˈta-chə-bəl How to pronounce detach (audio)
dē-
adjective
detachably
di-ˈta-chə-blē How to pronounce detach (audio)
dē-
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.
Nepali officials have said the floods were likely unleashed by a glacial collapse, which is when a large piece of ice, rock and debris suddenly detaches from a glacier on a mountain. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026 And right now the -- a lot of the worst politicians right now are sitting up on high in Oval Office rooms, detached from the feelings of working class people. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026 The study hypothesized that the sickle was added before the body fully decomposed since no joints were detached or displaced, as archaeologists would expect if a grave were to be disturbed after the body became a skeleton. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 The Nuggets appear detached from reality, lacking a clear direction. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for detach

See All Rhymes for detach

Browse Nearby Words

det
detach
detachability
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Detach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detach. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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
-ˈtach-ə-bəl How to pronounce detach (audio)
adjective
detachably
-blē How to pronounce detach (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on detach

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for detach

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