departure
B1Neutral (Used across formal, informal, and professional contexts)
Definition
Meaning
The action of leaving a place or starting a journey.
Can also refer to a deviation from an established plan, course, standard, or tradition.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. The core sense is physical movement away from a point. The metaphorical extension is common, implying a shift or change from a previous state or norm.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Both use 'departure lounge' (airports).
Connotations
In both, it can carry neutral (travel), negative (unexpected change), or positive (innovative shift) connotations depending on context.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
departure from [something]departure of [person/thing]departure for [destination]departure at [time]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A point of departure (a starting point for discussion)”
- “Take one's departure (formal: to leave)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to an employee leaving a company: 'The CEO's sudden departure shocked the market.'
Academic
Used to describe a theoretical shift: 'Her work represents a radical departure from previous scholarship.'
Everyday
Most commonly used for travel: 'Our departure is at 6 PM from Heathrow.'
Technical
In aviation/transport: 'The departure runway was cleared for takeoff.' In statistics: 'a departure from the mean.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The train will depart from platform four.
- We are due to depart at half past ten.
American English
- The flight departs from gate B12.
- He departed for Chicago yesterday.
adverb
British English
- N/A for 'departure'. The related adverb is 'departingly', which is extremely rare.
American English
- N/A for 'departure'. The related adverb is 'departingly', which is extremely rare.
adjective
British English
- The departure board showed all flights were delayed.
- Please proceed to the departure lounge.
American English
- Check the departure screen for your gate number.
- The departure gate has been changed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The departure of the bus is at 3 o'clock.
- What is your departure time?
- Her sudden departure from the company was a surprise.
- Please check the departure board for your flight.
- This new policy marks a significant departure from our previous approach.
- All passengers should be in the departure lounge 45 minutes before takeoff.
- The novel's stream-of-consciousness style was a radical departure from the literary conventions of its time.
- Economists noted a worrying departure from the predicted growth trends.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DEPARTure being the TIME you DEPART. The word 'depart' is clearly inside it.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE OF DIRECTION IS DEPARTURE (e.g., 'a departure from policy'); BEGINNING A JOURNEY IS DEPARTURE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating "departure" directly as "отъезд" in metaphorical contexts. Use "отход от" or "отклонение" (e.g., a departure from tradition = отход от традиции).
- "Departure time" is "время отправления/вылета", not "время департамента".
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (incorrect: 'I will departure soon'; correct: 'I will depart soon').
- Confusing 'departure' (the act/event) with 'departing' (the gerund/process).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'departure' used in a METAPHORICAL sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Departure' is a noun referring to the event or instance of leaving. 'Departing' is the present participle/gerund of the verb 'depart', focusing more on the ongoing action or process.
Yes. While 'departure from [place/standard]' is common, it can stand alone (e.g., 'The departure was emotional') or be used with 'of' (e.g., 'the departure of the president') or 'for' (e.g., 'departure for Paris').
No. While the most common use is for travel (flights, trains), it is widely used metaphorically to mean a deviation or change from a previous course, plan, or tradition.
In an airport, the direct opposite is 'arrival'. You have 'Departures' and 'Arrivals' halls/boards.
Collections
Part of a collection
Travel Vocabulary
A2 · 50 words · Words for getting around, booking trips and visiting new places.