part ways

present singular third person parts ways · participle present parting ways · participle past parted ways · past parted ways

1. To go in different directions.

   The two friends parted ways at the intersection.

2. broadlyfigurativelyTo end a relationship; to pursue a certain choice, course of action, etc. in a way that alienates or reduces communication with a partner.

   A relationship that Mr. [Barret] Zoph had with a Thinking Machines employee became public, and Ms. [Mira] Murati — who posted a public message about having “parted ways” with Mr. Zoph — has faced questions over her reasons for firing him and the state of the company.

   2026 January 22, Cade Metz, Kalley Huang, Mike Isaac, quoting Mira Murati, “The A.I. Start-Up Soap Opera Riveting Silicon Valley”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 Jan 2026