to part with

USAGE SUMMARY

"to part with" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to mean "to give away, to surrender, or to relinquish possession of something." For example, "I was reluctant to part with my old bike, but I gave it to my grandson as a present."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Nonetheless, he decided to part with it.

The New York Times

I hated to part with it.

The New York Times

I was prepared to part with $400.

The New York Times - Travel

"He didn't want to part with it," Mr. Elderfield said.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Grebner is willing to part with her.

The New York Times

The Mercedes he found too difficult to part with.

The New Yorker

She didn't want to part with the stub.

The New York Times - Sports

They didn't even know how to part with the dead".

The New Yorker

The proprietor seemed very unwilling to part with his cars.

The New Yorker

"That one is hard to part with," Mrs. Riordan said.

The New York Times - Arts

But she chose not to part with it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to part with" when you want to express the act of giving something up, often with a sense of reluctance or loss. It's suitable for describing the act of selling, donating, or simply relinquishing possession of something.

Common error

Avoid using "part" as a noun when you mean "part with". Ensure the context clearly indicates you are referring to the action of relinquishing something, not just a component or piece of something.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "to part with" is as a prepositional phrase functioning as a verb complement. It typically follows a verb and indicates the relinquishment or separation from something. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to part with" is a commonly used prepositional phrase that means to give something up, often with a sense of reluctance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides many examples of its use in various contexts. It is most frequently found in News & Media and maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for both formal and informal writing. When using this phrase, remember that it implies relinquishment or separation, and be mindful of the subtle emotional undertones it can convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to give up

A more general way of saying to surrender something.

to let go of

Implies emotional attachment and the act of releasing something.

to relinquish possession of

Emphasizes formally giving something up.

to relinquish

Similar to relinquish possession, but slightly more formal.

to dispose of

Suggests getting rid of something, often unwanted.

to hand over

Implies a transfer of something from one person to another.

to surrender

Suggests yielding or giving something up, often unwillingly.

to cede

Formally giving up control or ownership.

to donate

Giving something up freely as a gift to a good cause or person.

to sell

Giving something up in exchange for money.

FAQs

What does "to part with" mean?

The phrase "to part with" means to give something away, sell it, or otherwise relinquish possession of it. It often implies a sense of reluctance or sadness at giving something up.

What can I say instead of "to part with"?

You can use alternatives like "to give up", "to relinquish possession of", or "to let go of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "part from" instead of "to part with"?

"Part from" usually refers to separating from a person or place, whereas "to part with" refers to giving up an object. For example, "I had to part from my family" versus "I had to part with my car".

How to use "to part with" in a sentence?

You can use "to part with" in a sentence like: "She was sad to part with her old doll", or "He decided to part with his collection of rare stamps".