Depart vs Go out
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Depart
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Go out
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most common: Go out
| Depart | Go out | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈpɑːt//🇺🇸 //dɪˈpɑrt// | 🇬🇧 //ɡəʊ aʊt//🇺🇸 //ɡoʊ aʊt// |
| Meaning | To leave a place | To leave your home to do something fun. |
| Example | The train will depart from platform 5 at 3 PM. | We decided to go out for dinner instead of cooking. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | depart from the norm, depart for a destination, depart on schedule | go out for dinner, go out with friends, go out dancing, go out to eat, go out to a party |
| Antonyms | arrive, stay, remain | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'depart' with 'from' instead of just the destination, Confusing it with 'leave', Not using it in the correct tense | Confused with 'go out of' which means to exit a place., Using 'go out' without context, leading to ambiguity., Incorrectly using 'go out' in a formal context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'depart' in formal contexts or travel-related discussions. Less common in casual dialogue. | Use in informal settings when talking about social activities. Not suitable for formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Depart vs Go out
What's the difference between Depart and Go out?
Depart: To leave a place Go out: To leave your home to do something fun.
Which is more common: Depart and Go out?
Go out is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Depart: The train will depart from platform 5 at 3 PM. Go out: We decided to go out for dinner instead of cooking.
Can I use Depart and Go out interchangeably?
Not always. Depart and Go out are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.