section 1 of 2

noun

ˈsek-shən How to pronounce section (audio)
Definition of sectionnext
1
as in district
an area (as of a city) set apart for some purpose or having some special feature several abandoned warehouses in the city's industrial section are being converted into art galleries and artists' lofts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in portion
one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled had trouble fitting the sections of the bookcase together

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

section

2 of 2

verb

as in to part

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word section distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of section are division, fragment, member, part, piece, portion, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

In what contexts can division take the place of section?

Although the words division and section have much in common, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is it sensible to use fragment instead of section?

The words fragment and section are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is member a more appropriate choice than section?

While in some cases nearly identical to section, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When can part be used instead of section?

The synonyms part and section are sometimes interchangeable, but part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would piece be a good substitute for section?

The words piece and section can be used in similar contexts, but piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When could portion be used to replace section?

While the synonyms portion and section are close in meaning, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When might segment be a better fit than section?

In some situations, the words segment and section are roughly equivalent. However, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of section
Noun
Lastly, the Constitutional Court deliberated at length and came to its decision—even if a large section of the nation of 50 million disagrees with it as evidenced by the crowds thronging Seoul’s streets. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 4 Apr. 2025 Most annual auto renewal tickets in the reserved sections will remain one-year commitments and those prices have not been announced yet. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
While working in sections can feel time-consuming, sectioning your hair at the right point in your routine can save you a lot of time. —Annie Blay, Allure, 23 Dec. 2024 Adding contrast to the steel profiles are expansive glass walls and sleek steel racks that section the space into distinct areas for the brand’s latest women’s and men’s ready-to-wear collections, accessories and footwear. —Denni Hu, WWD, 13 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for section
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
  1. district
  2. portion
  3. part
  4. neighborhood
  5. segment
  6. separate
  7. zone
  8. fragment
Noun
  • Part of the whimsical display included pieces upholstered with Hemispheres Collection textiles in Milan’s evocative Cinque Vie district.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Sharing a name with the residential district in London where Grande reportedly lived while filming Wicked in 2023, the track is widely believed to be written about the Oscar nominee’s split from ex-husband Dalton Gomez.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of district
Noun
  • Mary, Chrissy, Kamilla, Kyle, David, Star, and Sai (who got the advantage fast pass to the individual portion of the contest) then advanced to round two.
    — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Architectural Digest may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers.
    — India Roby, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of portion
Verb
  • That's when glorious God gave Moses the power to part the water by raising his arm.
    — Holly Rizzuto Palker, Parents, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Jeffrey respected her wishes and the two parted for a summer.
    — Aditi Shrikant, CNBC, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of part
Noun
  • In a neighborhood with few children, regularly interacting with neighbors may be the start of building a sense of community.
    — Emily Edlynn, Parents, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Before his arrest, Abrego Garcia lived in a quiet neighborhood of single-family homes with large back and front yards, with trees blossoming in spring.
    — Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of neighborhood
Noun
  • Other performers this season include Noah Kahan, Michael B. Jordan, Samara Joy, Chris Stapleton, Renee Rapp, Jonathan Van Ness and Billie Jean King joining for songs and other segments.
    — Jem Aswad, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Both moves come as the company’s wine and spirits segment has struggled for several quarters.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of segment
Verb
  • They were separated from one another for the vast majority of the three films rather than given the kinds of great adventures and bonding moments that the original trilogy gave its core trio, and that led to much less compelling camaraderie and characters.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The sleeping space is separated from the living room and kitchen by an arched wall, making this a good option for couples who don’t fear an open plan.
    — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of separate
Noun
  • During a global expansion in the 1990s, Nissan built a second factory, making Kanda the company’s biggest domestic production zone.
    — River Akira Davis, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The evacuation zone was extended to six miles, then, later that day, to twelve miles.
    — Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of zone
Verb
  • The industry generates an enormous amount of it, yet most of that information is fragmented, making AI’s full potential hard to reach.
    — Derek Streat, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Currently, our cyber defense is disastrously fragmented across multiple entities—U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), NSA, Department of Homeland Security, CISA, FBI, and the private sector.
    — Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of fragment

Phrases Containing section

Browse Nearby Words

sectarians
section
sectional
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Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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