Depart vs. Departure — What's the Difference?

Depart is used to describe the action of leaving a place or the initiation of a journey. It is an active verb that implies movement away from a location or the beginning of a travel. For example, when someone says, "We plan to depart at dawn," it signifies the intention to start moving away from their current location at a specified time. On the other hand, departure is the noun form that denotes the act or event of departing. It encapsulates the concept or instance of leaving rather than the action itself. When referring to a departure, as in "The departure was delayed due to bad weather," it focuses on the event or circumstance surrounding the act of leaving.

Depart can be used in various contexts beyond physical travel, such as departing from a topic of conversation or departing from traditional practices, implying a leaving behind or moving away from a metaphorical position or stance. In contrast, departure, as a noun, is often used more concretely to describe the moment or process of leaving, but it can also refer to a deviation from the norm, such as in the phrase "a departure from the usual procedure."

The use of depart is typically associated with the subject performing the action, highlighting the entity that is leaving or embarking on a journey. Departure, being a noun, often focuses on the event itself or the conditions surrounding it, and it can be used in a broader range of contexts, including schedules, plans, and metaphorical departures from norms or expectations.

In summary, depart emphasizes the action and the agent involved in leaving, while departure highlights the occurrence or condition of the act of leaving, serving as a focal point for discussions around timing, reasons, and the nature of the leave-taking.