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to part ways

to part ways

23 3.9
To stop being together or working with someone and go in different directions
  • phrasal verb
  • /pɑrt weɪz/
translation icon : separarse
  • If you must know, we decided to part ways amicably.

And this year we parted ways for amicable terms.

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Examples

Synonyms

to break up
vsto part ways
  • Informal
678 2.6

End a relationship with someone, for example a romantic or business partner

is more general, used for leaving each other beyond romantic cases
to split
vsto part ways
575 2.3

End a relationship or go separate ways

is neutral and covers both physical separation and relationship endings
to separate
vsto part ways
481 2.9

To move apart or stop being together

is more about leaving each other and ending an association specifically
to part
vsto part ways
241 2.9

To separate and move in different directions after being together

is the multiword expression used for the same action
to split up
vsto part ways
  • Informal
137 2.7

To end a close relationship and go separate ways

is broader applying to leaving each other or ending many associations
to break with
vsto part ways
23 4.1

End a relationship with someone or something in a clear, final way

is less formal and more everyday about leaving each other
to go their separate ways
vsto part ways
8 3.9

Stop being together and take different paths in life

is a shorter phrase meaning leave and end the association

Antonyms

Remain close and loyal to each other during hard times

How Separated

to cut the cord
  • Informal
5 6.6
to part ways
23 3.9
to separate
481 2.9

Surface Forms

part ways infinitive
parted ways past participle
parting ways present participle
parts ways third person singular

Morphology

part + way

The meaning 'to leave each other and go in different directions / end an association' is directly derivable from combining 'part' (to separate) with 'ways' (routes/directions). This compositional pattern (going separate ways) is common across languages and follows a transparent motion/separation logic, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily understand it.

Etymology

Part ways comes from the picture of two people at a road who then walk away on different paths; part means to separate and ways are the paths. That's why it now means 'to leave each other' or 'to end a relationship or association'.