sever
B2Formal
Definition
Meaning
To cut through or off completely; to divide or separate.
To formally end a relationship, connection, or agreement, often permanently or with significant consequences.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a decisive, forceful, or official action of separation. The result is typically a clean, clear break, often causing a permanent state of disconnection. It frequently involves formal or legal contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical or syntactic differences. Slight regional variations in frequency, being more common in formal/legal writing in both regions.
Connotations
Same connotations of forcefulness, formality, and finality in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English legal and diplomatic contexts, but broadly comparable.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
sever + NOUN (e.g., ties)sever + NOUN + from + NOUN (e.g., sever a state from a union)sever + NOUN + PREP PHRASE (e.g., sever ties with the company)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sever ties with someone/something”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The company decided to sever its contract with the unreliable supplier.'
Academic
'The study aimed to sever the assumed correlation between the two variables.'
Everyday
'After the argument, she threatened to sever all contact with her cousin.'
Technical
'The surgeon had to sever the nerve to prevent the spread of infection.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The UK government moved to sever trade links with the regime.
- He used a knife to sever the rope.
American English
- The state legislature voted to sever all official connections with the organization.
- The accident severed a major gas line.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The wind was so strong it severed a branch from the tree.
- She had to sever the old cable before installing the new one.
- The scandal forced the minister to sever all connections with the lobbying firm.
- The treaty contained a clause allowing either nation to sever the alliance with six months' notice.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SEVERE cut. To SEVER is to make a SEVERE, complete cut or separation.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONNECTION IS A BOND/CORD; ENDING A CONNECTION IS SEVERING A BOND.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'several' ('несколько').
- Do not confuse with 'severe' ('суровый', 'тяжелый'), though the mnemonic links them.
- Russian 'разорвать' or 'разъединить' are close, but 'sever' is more formal and implies a clean, decisive break.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *'sever from' (missing object) -> Correct: 'sever ties from'.
- Incorrect: using in overly informal contexts where 'cut off' or 'break off' is more natural.
- Spelling confusion: 'sever' vs. 'severe'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best captures the meaning of 'sever' in a formal context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it can mean physical cutting (sever a limb), it is more commonly used metaphorically for ending relationships, connections, or agreements (sever ties, sever relations).
'Sever' implies a complete, clean, and often decisive or formal separation. 'Cut' is more general and can be partial or informal. You 'cut' a cake, but 'sever' a head (in formal/literary contexts).
Rarely. It is typically neutral-formal but often carries negative connotations of loss, force, or a necessary but painful break (e.g., severing ties with a toxic partner).
Most commonly: 1) sever + direct object (sever the rope). 2) sever + object + from + noun (sever the province from the federation). 3) sever + ties/relations/connections + with + noun (sever ties with an ally).