What does parting mean?
Parting describes the experience of saying goodbye or separating, especially when the separation is significant or emotional. As a noun, it can refer to the act of departure, a farewell, or a division between people or paths. As an adjective, it modifies a gesture, remark, or gift associated with departure: a parting glance, parting words, or a parting shot. The word can also serve as the present participle of the verb 'part,' as in 'parting from the company.' In contemporary English, its strongest association is with the final moments before people separate, making it common in stories about departures, endings, and emotional farewells. Although it sounds formal or literary in some contexts, the word remains natural in both British and American usage and is especially useful when the separation itself is the focus.
The act of leaving or separating from someone; a farewell.
"The two friends were in tears at their parting."
A plural is grammatically possible, but 'parting' is usually used in the singular in contemporary English.
A division or separation between people, groups, or courses of action.
"The disagreement marked the parting of their ways."
This sense is somewhat literary and is less common than the sense of a farewell.
Given, said, or done at the point of departure or separation.
"He delivered a parting joke as she left the room."
Common combinations include 'parting glance,' 'parting words,' and 'parting shot.'
The present participle of 'part,' meaning leaving or separating.
"They were parting ways at the crossroads."
This is an inflected verb form rather than a separate lexical verb.
The plural is grammatically correct but is uncommon in modern usage; 'a parting' is generally preferred.
"Several partings marked the end of the long journey."
A parting is often the briefest scene in a story, yet the final glance, remark, or silence can carry the emotional weight of an entire farewell.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does parting come from?
The word 'part' comes from Latin 'partire' and 'pars,' related to the idea of dividing or separating. 'Parting' developed as a gerund and noun from that older verb. Related English words include 'depart,' 'partition,' 'partial,' and 'participant,' all reflecting forms of the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How parting is actually used
In its most common use, 'parting' is a noun referring to a farewell or departure. As an adjective, it is often used with words such as 'glance,' 'words,' and 'shot.' The verbal form 'parting' is standard but is usually recognized as an inflection of 'part'.
Easily confused with parting
A partition is a physical or conceptual division, whereas a parting is the act of separating or the farewell that accompanies it.
A part is a piece or portion of something, while parting is the process of leaving or separating, or an adjective describing something done at that moment.