Definition of divide in English:


Syllabification: di·vide
Pronunciation: /diˈvīd


1Separate or be separated into parts: [with object]: consumer magazines can be divided into a number of different categories [no object]: the cell clusters began to divide rapidly
More example sentences
split (up), cut up, carve up; dissect, bisect, halve, quarter
literary sunder
diverge, separate, part, branch (off), fork, split (in two), bifurcateclassify, sort (out), categorize, order, group, grade, rank
1.1 [with object] Separate (something) into portions and distribute a share to each of a number of people: Jack divided up the rest of the cash the property was divided among his heirs
More example sentences
share out, allocate, allot, apportion, portion out, ration out, parcel out, deal out, dole out, dish out, distribute, dispense
informal divvy up
1.2 [with object] Allocate (different parts of one’s time, attention, or efforts) to different activities or places: the last years of her life were divided between Bermuda and Paris
More example sentences
1.3 [with object] Form a boundary between (two people or things): the artificial barrier that has divided an academic education from a vocational one
More example sentences
  • A double door divides the living room and dining room.
separate, segregate, partition, screen off, section off, split off
1.4(Of a legislative assembly) separate or be separated into two groups for voting: [no object]: the House divided: 287 for, 196 against
More example sentences
More example sentences
disunite, drive apart, break up, split up, set at variance, set at odds; separate, isolate, estrange, alienate
literary tear asunder
3 [with object] Mathematics Find how many times (a number) contains another: 36 divided by 2 equals 18 [no object]: the program helps children to multiply and divide quickly and accurately
More example sentences
3.1 [no object] (Of a number) be susceptible to division without a remainder: 30 does not divide by 8
More example sentences
  • What happens if the numbers do not divide exactly?
  • Two of these numbers divide by 5 with no remainder.
More example sentences
  • How do you divide 6 into 612?
More example sentences
  • 5 divides into 10 evenly.


Back to top  
1A wide divergence between two groups, typically producing tension or hostility: there was still a profound cultural divide between the parties
More example sentences
More example sentences
  • The divide between the digital and tangible is blurring…
breach, gulf, gap, split; borderline, boundary, dividing line
More example sentences




divide and conquer (or rule)

The policy of maintaining control over one’s subordinates or subjects by encouraging dissent between them.
More example sentences

divided against itself

(Of a group that should be coherent) split by factional interests: the regime is profoundly divided against itself
More example sentences

More definitions of divide

Definition of divide in:

Get more from Oxford Dictionaries

Subscribe to remove ads and access premium resources

Word of the day erroneous
Pronunciation: iˈrōnēəs
wrong; incorrect