severed; severing
ˈse-və-riŋ 
ˈsev-riŋ
: to put or keep apart : divide
especially
: to remove (something, such as a part) by or as if by cutting
: to become separated
Synonyms
Examples of sever in a Sentence
He severed the lowest tree limbs.
His finger was severed in the accident.
Activists are asking the government to sever all diplomatic relations with the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Several other defendants charged in the case, including rapper Gunna, took plea deals or had their cases severed from the trial.
—
Nick Valencia, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
And for young Black voters, Silver said, the civil rights era is a distant memory, which can sever historical ties to the Democratic Party.
—Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024
The second bill severs all ties between government employees and UNRWA and strips its staff of their legal immunities.
—Joseph Krauss, Julia Frankel, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
Together, the laws would effectively sever ties with the U.N. agency, strip it of legal immunities and restrict its ability to support Palestinians in east Jerusalem and the West Bank.
—Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sever 
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Nick Valencia, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
And for young Black voters, Silver said, the civil rights era is a distant memory, which can sever historical ties to the Democratic Party.
—Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024
The second bill severs all ties between government employees and UNRWA and strips its staff of their legal immunities.
—Joseph Krauss, Julia Frankel, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
Together, the laws would effectively sever ties with the U.N. agency, strip it of legal immunities and restrict its ability to support Palestinians in east Jerusalem and the West Bank.
—Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sever
Dictionary Entries Near sever
Cite this Entry
“Sever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sever. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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Legal Definition
sever
transitive verb
sev·er
ˈse-vər
severed; severing
1
: to end (a joint tenancy) by ending one or all of the unities of time, title, possession, or interest (as by conveying one tenant's interest to another party)
2
: to separate (as a contract) into different parts (as independent obligations) in order to treat each separately
3
a
: to try (criminal offenses or defendants) separately in order to avoid prejudice
b
: to split (a criminal trial) into multiple trials in order to avoid prejudice
c
: to try (civil claims or issues pleaded in the same case) separately
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