divided; dividing
1
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
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
Synonyms
Examples of divide in a Sentence
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
Jessica Battilana Richard Pedaline, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2023
The judicial overhaul has triggered the longest and largest protest movement in Israeli history, dividing the Knesset over a crucial proposal that critics say would threaten the country’s democracy.
—Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 22 Sep. 2023
The western parts were divided among France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
—Samuel Clowes Huneke, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2023
In 1981, when her father’s health declined, the family divided the property and Shetterly bought 37 acres.
—Madison Rudolf, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023
To serve, divide the spinach mixture among six bowls, then ladle with the broth and quadrucci.
—Leah Koenig, Saveur, 20 Sep. 2023
The incident has divided those who say police should have handled the situation in a different manner and those who say Mims should have complied with officers’ request to leave.
—Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 19 Sep. 2023
The dams, Abu Mansour and Derna, were built by a Yugoslav construction company in the 1970s above Wadi Derna, which divides the city.
—Samy Magdy, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Sep. 2023
For context, Disney defines a view as total stream time divided by runtime, just like Netflix recently started doing.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 18 Sep. 2023
Chloe Berger, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2023
Many Israelis, both those for and against the judicial changes, say Israel is risking tearing itself apart, and that the judicial overhaul is just one aspect of what’s really fueling the divide – the battle between secular and religious, settler and not.
—Hadas Gold, CNN, 12 Sep. 2023
Part of the hesitation to go electric is driven by a partisan divide.
—Shannon Osaka, Emily Guskin, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2023
The doom and gloom that too many Americans screech about on social media and in their personal lives — on both sides of the red-blue divide — is a betrayal of what brought their ancestors here, and what continues to attract people from across the world.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2023
Such an inquiry would face major obstacles given Libya's lingering political divide, even as the devastation brought a rare moment of unity, with Libyans on both sides rushing aid to Derna.
—Samy Magdy and Yousef Mourad The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2023
This isn’t the only generational divide in the workplace.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 12 Sep. 2023
The stories never connect, reflecting the divide between the liberal, literary son, who immigrated to Seattle in 1990, and the conservative father, who became a vicar in the Church of England.
—By Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
This divide between populism and traditional conservatism embraced by candidates like Pence will likely emerge as a theme in the second debate, said Michael Traugott, a political scientist at the University of Michigan.
—Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2023
See More
Verb
Toshiko Mori, the architect and principal at Toshiko Mori Architect, divides her time between New York City and a home on an island in Maine’s Penobscot Bay.
—Jessica Battilana Richard Pedaline, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2023
The judicial overhaul has triggered the longest and largest protest movement in Israeli history, dividing the Knesset over a crucial proposal that critics say would threaten the country’s democracy.
—Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 22 Sep. 2023
The western parts were divided among France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
—Samuel Clowes Huneke, The New Republic, 22 Sep. 2023
In 1981, when her father’s health declined, the family divided the property and Shetterly bought 37 acres.
—Madison Rudolf, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023
To serve, divide the spinach mixture among six bowls, then ladle with the broth and quadrucci.
—Leah Koenig, Saveur, 20 Sep. 2023
The incident has divided those who say police should have handled the situation in a different manner and those who say Mims should have complied with officers’ request to leave.
—Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 19 Sep. 2023
The dams, Abu Mansour and Derna, were built by a Yugoslav construction company in the 1970s above Wadi Derna, which divides the city.
—Samy Magdy, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Sep. 2023
For context, Disney defines a view as total stream time divided by runtime, just like Netflix recently started doing.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 18 Sep. 2023
Noun
Biden says this is part of the plan During the pandemic, rising inequality was put in the spotlight as the ever present economic divide became more stark.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2023
Many Israelis, both those for and against the judicial changes, say Israel is risking tearing itself apart, and that the judicial overhaul is just one aspect of what’s really fueling the divide – the battle between secular and religious, settler and not.
—Hadas Gold, CNN, 12 Sep. 2023
Part of the hesitation to go electric is driven by a partisan divide.
—Shannon Osaka, Emily Guskin, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2023
The doom and gloom that too many Americans screech about on social media and in their personal lives — on both sides of the red-blue divide — is a betrayal of what brought their ancestors here, and what continues to attract people from across the world.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2023
Such an inquiry would face major obstacles given Libya's lingering political divide, even as the devastation brought a rare moment of unity, with Libyans on both sides rushing aid to Derna.
—Samy Magdy and Yousef Mourad The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2023
This isn’t the only generational divide in the workplace.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 12 Sep. 2023
The stories never connect, reflecting the divide between the liberal, literary son, who immigrated to Seattle in 1990, and the conservative father, who became a vicar in the Church of England.
—By Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
This divide between populism and traditional conservatism embraced by candidates like Pence will likely emerge as a theme in the second debate, said Michael Traugott, a political scientist at the University of Michigan.
—Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'divide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of divide was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing divide
Dictionary Entries Near divide
Cite this Entry
“Divide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divide. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
divide
1 of 2 verb
di·vide
də-ˈvīd 
divided; dividing
1
a
: to separate into two or more parts or pieces
b
: to separate into classes or categories
c
2
a
: to give out in shares
b
: to own or use in common : share
3
: to cause to be separate, different, or apart from one another
4
a
: to perform or use in mathematical division
b
: to subject (a number) to the operation of finding how many times it contains another number
divide 42 by 14
c
: to use as a divisor
divide 14 into 42
5
a
: to undergo cell division
the cell divides
divide
2 of 2 noun
: a dividing ridge between drainage areas : watershed
Medical Definition
divide
verb
di·vide
də-ˈvīd
divided; dividing
: to separate into two or more parts
divide a nerve surgically
: to undergo replication, multiplication, fission, or separation into parts
actively dividing cells
More from Merriam-Webster on divide
Nglish: Translation of divide for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of divide for Arabic Speakers
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