divest

verb di·vest \ dī-ˈvest , də- \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Examples: divest in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of divest

transitive verb

1 a : to deprive or dispossess especially of property, authority, or title

divesting assets to raise capital

was divested of his rights

divesting herself of all her worldly possessions

encouraged the university to divest itself from fossil fuels

b : to undress or strip especially of clothing, ornament, or equipment

Christmas trees divested of their ornaments

c : rid, free

2 : to take away from a person

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divestment

play \-ˈves(t)-mənt\ noun

See divest defined for English-language learners

See divest defined for kids

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Examples of divest in a Sentence

The company is divesting 8 of its 20 stores.
We may have to divest assets to raise capital.

Recent Examples of divest from the Web

Critics of the water authority have questioned whether efforts to divest from the Met have been in ratepayers’ best interest — or the result of a longstanding feud.

— joshua emerson smith, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego's efforts to divest from rival L.A. water agency have driven up rates for residents. Is it worth it?," 1 July 2018
That separation means that if the Justice Department appeals and wins, Turner can be more easily divested.

— david mclaughlin, Bloomberg.com, "AT&T Closes $85 Billion Time Warner Deal," 15 June 2018
The filing noted that Kushner divested his stakes before joining the White House but did not report the assets previously because of an accounting oversight.

— chicagotribune.com, "Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump made at least $82 million in outside income last year while serving in the White House, filings show," 12 June 2018
The filing noted that Kushner divested his stakes before joining the White House but did not report the assets previously because of an accounting oversight.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump made at least $82 million in outside income last year while serving in the White House," 12 June 2018
Nestle SA has said its Purina division is a central focus as the Swiss company divests slower-growing units like its U.S. confectionery business.

— craig giammona, Houston Chronicle, "General Mills pays steep price to get into high-growth business," 23 Feb. 2018
Your service has resulted in your divesting yourself of literally hundreds of millions of dollars.

— alex shephard, The New Republic, "Wilbur Ross’s Financial Shenanigans Should Be a Massive Scandal," 22 June 2018
MassDivest, a coalition of large public sector unions and environmental groups, with strong support from legislators, is urging PRIM to divest itself of fossil fuel holdings.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Should Massachusetts divest its pension fund from fossil fuel companies?," 15 June 2018
In 2007, Scott signed legislation divesting the state’s funds from companies that work with the government of Sudan and with Iran’s energy sector.

— lois k. solomon, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Broward teachers want state to divest from gun funds," 14 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'divest.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Divest is one of many English words that come from the Latin verb vestire (to clothe) and ultimately from the noun vestis (clothing, garment). Others include vest, vestment, invest, and travesty. Divest and its older form devest can mean to unclothe or to remove the clothing of, but the word had broader applications even when it was first being used in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the opening scene of Shakespeare's King Lear, Lear uses the term to mean rid oneself of or put aside:

"Tell me, my daughters
(Since now we will divest us both of rule,
Interest of territory, cares of state),
Which of you shall we say doth love us most?" In addition to clothing, one can be divested of power, authority, possessions, or burdens."

Origin and Etymology of divest

alteration of devest

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1623

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

divest Synonyms

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

DIVEST Defined for English Language Learners

divest

verb

Definition of divest for English Language Learners

finance : to sell (something valuable, such as property or stocks)

Law Dictionary

divest

transitive verb di·vest \ dī-ˈvest, də- \

legal Definition of divest

: to deprive or dispossess (oneself) of property through divestiture

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divestment

noun

Origin and Etymology of divest

Anglo-French devestir, literally, to undress, from Old French desvestir, from de(s)-, prefix marking reversal + vestir to dress, from Latin vestire