MEANING
To cut or break a connection completely, especially by separating a body part.
Use it for
Complete bodily separation; disabling injury; a victim cut off from helpUse it to mark complete separation rather than a partial cut; permanence depends on what was severed and what happens afterward.
Words that belong together
- sever a limb
- severed tendon
- sever all contact
On the page
The cable severed the hand at the wrist.
One blow had severed the tendon.
After the calls began, she severed every connection to the old laboratory.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- sever / severs
- Past tense
- severed
- Past participle
- severed
- Present participle
- severing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- sever / severs
- Present continuous
- am/is/are severing
- Present perfect
- have/has severed
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been severing
- Past
- severed
- Past continuous
- was/were severing
- Past perfect
- had severed
- Past perfect continuous
- had been severing
- Future
- will sever / severs
- Future continuous
- will be severing
- Future perfect
- will have severed
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been severing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary category: horror. Completion is central: damage or a partial cut is not severance. Equally natural for relationships and communications. Verb [base, third-person present, past, past participle, -ing]: sever, severs, severed, severed, severing. Derived/related family (not inflections): severance (noun).
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