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
The thinking applies not only to Walmart, but to its primary rival Target, which is building a half-dozen new stores around the state including in Fort Lauderdale’s Uptown section at Cypress Creek Station. —David Lyons, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 June 2025 In addition to drug and gun crimes, Rosen took on responsibility for the section handling Jan. 6 cases. —Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 2 June 2025
Verb
Other primary attractions include exclusive jackpot titles, a large selection of the best online slots and table games sectioned under multiple categories. —Matthew Gover, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025 Make your comments section a place where real relationships start. —Jodie Cook, Forbes, 20 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
  • This story has been updated to note that the dance was not sponsored by the school district but occurred on school grounds, according to a statement from the district.
    — Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
  • Then in early 2021, just a few weeks into his term, President Joe Biden’s administration withdrew support for the lawsuit and rescinded the Education Department’s threats to cut funding to the districts.
    — Jessika Harkay, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2025
Definition of district
Noun
  • The approved budget would preserve the portion of the program for those 65 and older, allocating $110 million for that coverage.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
  • Musk has also sought to operate Starlink, his satellite-internet company, in South Africa, but has balked at a law requiring foreign tech firms to sell a portion of their local subsidiaries to shareholders who are Black or historically disadvantaged.
    — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 1 June 2025
Definition of portion
Verb
  • Sitting cross-legged on the floor while her scalp was parted and pulled by a cousin, an auntie, someone who loved her.
    — Ruhama Wolle, Vogue, 22 May 2025
  • The crowd parted, and a tiny woman with a big smile emerged.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025
Definition of part
Noun
  • Another $2 million award was pulled from a Detroit program that offers social services and job skills to young people in violent neighborhoods.
    — Bram Sable-Smith, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
  • Dave’s operates three Fort Worth locations in the Cityview, Alliance and TCU neighborhoods, along with nearby restaurants in Arlington and Hurst.
    — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2025
Definition of neighborhood
Noun
  • Mulaney recently told Rolling Stone that the music segments of the talk show are his favorite part.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
  • As the line between a conversational podcast and a TV segment blurs rapidly, MSNBC is stocking up on original audio shows — 18 and counting — as the progressive news brand pivots its business beyond its cable news roots.
    — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 29 May 2025
Definition of segment
Verb
  • At one point, cinematographer Adib Sobhani’s camera cranes up above the schoolyard, showing students and parents separated by a fence that Aliyar accidentally locked.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025
  • That may not sound like much, but in a market where supply and demand are often separated by razor-thin margins, the impact on oil prices could be significant.
    — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Definition of separate
Noun
  • Two lanes in each direction, except for a 25 mph speed limit at construction work zones, opened on the iconic Southern California highway before 9 a.m. on May 23.
    — Terry Collins, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • Preparing the road for reopening is a significant undertaking that includes plowing through multiple avalanche zones, clearing downed trees and rockfalls, and preparing campgrounds and critical facilities for visitors, according to the park service.
    — Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
Definition of zone
Verb
  • That’s because prior to its 1861 unification, the Italian peninsula was fragmented into several kingdoms, duchies, and city-states, each with its landscape, culture, food, and grapes.
    — Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Making clothes is complicated because supply chains can be long and fragmented, from growing and processing raw materials such as cotton, to weaving and dyeing textiles, designing patterns and sewing fabric into garments.
    — Lucy Handley, CNBC, 19 May 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 6 Jun. 2025.

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