divide
1 of 2verb
di·vide də-ˈvīd 
divided; dividing
transitive verb
1
a
: to separate into two or more parts, areas, or groups
divide the city into wards
b
: to separate into classes, categories, or divisions
divide history into epochs
c
: cleave, part
a ship dividing the waves
2
a
: to separate into portions and give out in shares : distribute
divide profits
b
: to possess, enjoy, or make use of in common
divide the blame
c
: apportion
divides her time between the office and home
3
a
: to cause to be separate, distinct, or apart from one another
fields divided by stone walls
b
: to separate into opposing sides or parties
the issues that divide us
c
: to cause (a parliamentary body) to vote by division
4
a
: to subject (a number or quantity) to the operation of finding how many times it contains another number or quantity
divide 42 by 14
b
: to be used as a divisor with respect to (a dividend)
4 divides 16 evenly
c
: to use as a divisor —used with into
divide 14 into 42
intransitive verb
1
: to perform mathematical division
2
a(1)
: to undergo replication, multiplication, fission, or separation into parts
(2)
: to branch out
b
: to become separated or disunited especially in opinion or interest
dividable
də-ˈvī-də-bəl
adjective divide
2 of 2noun
1
: an act of dividing
2
a
: a dividing ridge between drainage areas
b
: a point or line of division or disagreement
Synonyms
Verb
- break up
- decouple
- disassociate
- disconnect
- disjoin
- disjoint
- dissever
- dissociate
- disunite
- divorce
- part
- ramify
- resolve
- separate
- sever
- split
- sunder
- uncouple
- unlink
- unyoke
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb She divided the pie into eight pieces. The equator divides the Earth into two hemispheres. The river divides after the bridge. A tall fence divides the two yards.
Recent Examples on the Web
Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, the sport continues to unite, divide, and take over. Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022 It must be noted that if the Tony Awards were ever to divide acting categories into dairy and nondairy, Milky White would be a moo-in. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 Books constantly unite, divide, attract and repel people. New York Times, 7 Apr. 2022 As Russia's onslaught continues, Lambrinidis stressed that Western solidarity in the face of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's aggression is important because Putin's other goal beyond taking over Ukraine is to divide the West on geopolitical issues. Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2022 The point is to do so wisely and, if possible, try to unite rather than divide. Julian Villanueva, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2021 As flooding persists and worsens in Lake County, projects to alleviate the impacts have drawn bipartisan support while other issues continue to divide leaders in opposing parties. Gavin Good, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 Remove from the heat, divide among plates or shallow bowls, and serve. Olga Massov, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2022 The debate highlights a fundamental divide in U.S. drug policy. Lev Facher, STAT, 11 Sep. 2022 As the more than two-minute glimpse at the film continues, viewers get a sense that the Fabelmans have a divide among their family. Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2022 Michael Mueller served for more than four years as the commander of the department’s Fifth District, which straddles the Delmar Boulevard divide to include the upscale Central West End and several higher-crime neighborhoods to the north. Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2022 Yet reform advocates point to the steep potential costs of inaction: an increasingly angry partisan divide that has left growing numbers of people feeling politically disconnected, disillusioned, and unrepresented. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2022 Jones did not want to delve into the differences between Fitzwater and Racioppi and whether the race reflected a divide in the state GOP. Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Rather than divide and distract, politicians of all stripes should focus on what children need, from reading, math and music to mental-health support and pathways to careers and colleges. Fox News, 6 Sep. 2022 That backlash differs from the divide emerging within the medical and public health fields; such threats, made directly against some public health experts, mostly come from people in the general public. Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 See More
Verb
There's been plenty to divide fans, yet comedy still resonates. Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, the sport continues to unite, divide, and take over. Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022 It must be noted that if the Tony Awards were ever to divide acting categories into dairy and nondairy, Milky White would be a moo-in. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 11 July 2022 Books constantly unite, divide, attract and repel people. New York Times, 7 Apr. 2022 As Russia's onslaught continues, Lambrinidis stressed that Western solidarity in the face of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's aggression is important because Putin's other goal beyond taking over Ukraine is to divide the West on geopolitical issues. Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2022 The point is to do so wisely and, if possible, try to unite rather than divide. Julian Villanueva, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2021 As flooding persists and worsens in Lake County, projects to alleviate the impacts have drawn bipartisan support while other issues continue to divide leaders in opposing parties. Gavin Good, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 Remove from the heat, divide among plates or shallow bowls, and serve. Olga Massov, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 Noun
The political divide and a lack of women in positions of political power prevent the U.S. from adopting a safety net that allows women to reach their full economic potential, says Melinda Gates French. Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2022 The debate highlights a fundamental divide in U.S. drug policy. Lev Facher, STAT, 11 Sep. 2022 As the more than two-minute glimpse at the film continues, viewers get a sense that the Fabelmans have a divide among their family. Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2022 Michael Mueller served for more than four years as the commander of the department’s Fifth District, which straddles the Delmar Boulevard divide to include the upscale Central West End and several higher-crime neighborhoods to the north. Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2022 Yet reform advocates point to the steep potential costs of inaction: an increasingly angry partisan divide that has left growing numbers of people feeling politically disconnected, disillusioned, and unrepresented. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2022 Jones did not want to delve into the differences between Fitzwater and Racioppi and whether the race reflected a divide in the state GOP. Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Rather than divide and distract, politicians of all stripes should focus on what children need, from reading, math and music to mental-health support and pathways to careers and colleges. Fox News, 6 Sep. 2022 That backlash differs from the divide emerging within the medical and public health fields; such threats, made directly against some public health experts, mostly come from people in the general public. Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Latin dividere, from dis- + -videre to separate — more at widow
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing divide
Kids Definition
divide
verb
di·vide də-ˈvīd
divided; dividing
1
: to separate into two or more parts or pieces
She divided the pie into eight pieces.
2
: to give out in shares
I divided the money between us.
3
: to be or make different in opinion or interest
The country was divided over the issue.
4
: to subject to or perform mathematical division
Divide 10 by 2.
5
: to branch off : fork
The road divides here.
Medical Definition
divide
verb
di·vide də-ˈvīd
divided; dividing
transitive verb
: to separate into two or more parts
divide a nerve surgically
intransitive verb
: to undergo replication, multiplication, fission, or separation into parts
actively dividing cells
divide 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to split
to set or force apart volunteers divided the donated groceries into several dozen piles Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- split
- separate
- disconnect
- resolve
- isolate
- sever
- subdivide
- part
- disunite
- pull
- disjoin
- ramify
- divorce
- dissociate
- dissect
- disassociate
- disjoint
- detach
- dissever
- sunder
- decompose
- decouple
- break up
- dissolve
- bifurcate
- partition
- uncouple
- segregate
- unlink
- cleave
- fragment
- disintegrate
- unyoke
- dichotomize
- segment
- rip
- halve
- bisect
- fractionate
- tear
- disassemble
- rift
- fractionalize
- trisect
- break
- fracture
- quarter
- unravel
- fragmentize
- rend
- rupture
- fragmentate
- break down
- cut off
- rive
- insulate
- disentangle
- seclude
- disengage
- sequester
- untie
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unite
- unify
- join
- combine
- mix
- assemble
- blend
- link
- connect
- associate
- mingle
- couple
- accumulate
- bind
- attach
- close
- stick
- knit
- fuse
- fasten
- cement
- weld
- agglutinate
2
as in to separate
to go or move in different directions from a central point the group divided based on those who wanted to go swimming and those who didn't Synonyms & Similar Words
- separate
- part
- diverge
- fork
- spread
- retreat
- scatter
- disperse
- distribute
- dispel
- dissipate
- disband
- sow
- branch (out)
- distance
- clear out
- bestrew
- recede
- broadcast
- break up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- join
- converge
- gather
- meet
- assemble
divide
2 of 2noun
1
as in dispute
Synonyms & Similar Words
- dispute
- fissure
- disagreement
- debate
- bicker
- clash
- argument
- altercation
- wrangle
- squabble
- quarrel
- brawl
- contention
- discord
- fight
- collision
- disunity
- competition
- variance
- spat
- disharmony
- division
- tiff
- infighting
- schism
- dissension
- dissonance
- friction
- strife
- war
- conflict
- discordance
- inharmony
- row
- disunion
- warfare
- scrap
- dissent
- jar
- dissention
- discordancy
- enmity
- incongruence
- animosity
- dissidence
- mix-up
- falling-out
- inconsistency
- incompatibility
- miff
- incongruity
- antagonism
- hassle
- hostility
- antipathy
- run-in
- rancor
- disaccord
- ill will
- inharmoniousness
- inconsonance
- cold war
- inconsistence
- incongruousness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- agreement
- peace
- harmony
- concord
- cooperation
- concordance
- accord
- concurrence
2
as in rise
Synonyms & Similar Words
- rise
- peak
- prominence
- eminence
- ridge
- backbone
- spine
- promontory
- ridgepole
- crest
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of divide are divorce, part, separate, sever, and sunder. While all these words mean "to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed," divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking.
civil war divided the nation
The words divorce and divide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together.
cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility
While in some cases nearly identical to divide, part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association.
vowed never to part
In some situations, the words separate and divide are roughly equivalent. However, separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing.
separated her personal life from her career
The words sever and divide can be used in similar contexts, but sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member.
a severed limb
While the synonyms sunder and divide are close in meaning, sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart.
a city sundered by racial conflict