Departure vs Home is behind

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Departure

Top 2,000 (common)B1noun

Home is behind

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Departure
 DepartureHome is behind
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈpɑːtʃə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/"]/🇬🇧 //həʊm ɪz bɪˈhaɪnd//🇺🇸 //hoʊm ɪz bɪˈhaɪnd//
MeaningThe act of leaving a place.Your home is in the past.
ExampleThe departure of the flight was delayed due to bad weather.As I moved to the city, I remembered that home is behind me.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsabrupt, sudden, hasty, make, hasten, delay, point, date, time, before departure, prior to departure, on departure, the day, time, etc. of departure, the point of departure, abrupt, sudden, hasty, make, hasten, delay, point, date, time, before departure, prior to departure, on departure, the day, time, etc. of departure, the point of departure, new, big, complete, be, mark, represent, departure fromhome is behind, leave home behind, home is where the heart is
Antonymsarrival-
Common mistakesConfused with 'departure' when meaning 'arrival'., Incorrectly using 'depart' instead of 'departure' as a noun., Using 'departure' without indicating what is being departed from.Misplaced the order of words; 'behind is home' is incorrect., Used inappropriately in non-reflective contexts., Confused with similar phrases like 'home is where the heart is'.
Usage notesUse 'departure' in contexts about travel or leaving. It’s neutral and suitable for formal and casual situations but may not be the best choice for very informal conversations.This phrase can imply nostalgia or a sense of loss, often used in literary or poetic contexts. It may not be suitable for casual conversations.

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Home is behind

Frequently asked questions: Departure vs Home is behind

What's the difference between Departure and Home is behind?

Departure: The act of leaving a place. Home is behind: Your home is in the past.

Which is more common: Departure and Home is behind?

Departure is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Departure: The departure of the flight was delayed due to bad weather. Home is behind: As I moved to the city, I remembered that home is behind me.

Can I use Departure and Home is behind interchangeably?

Not always. Departure and Home is behind 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.

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