split

1 of 3

verb

ˈsplit 

split; splitting

transitive verb

1

a

: to divide lengthwise usually along a grain or seam or by layers

b

: to affect as if by cleaving or forcing apart

the river splits the town in two

2

a(1)

: to tear or rend apart : burst

(2)

: to subject (an atom or atomic nucleus) to artificial disintegration by fission

b

: to affect as if by breaking up or tearing apart : shatter

a roar that split the air

3

: to divide into parts or portions: such as

a

: to divide between persons : share

b

: to divide into factions, parties, or groups

c

: to mark (a ballot) or cast or register (a vote) so as to vote for candidates of different parties

d(1)

: to divide or break down (a chemical compound) into constituents

split a fat into glycerol and fatty acids

(2)

: to remove by such separation

split off carbon dioxide

e

: to divide (stock) by issuing a larger number of shares to existing shareholders usually without increase in total par value

4

: to separate (the parts of a whole) by interposing something

split an infinitive

5

: leave

split the party

split town

intransitive verb

1

a

: to become split lengthwise or into layers

b

: to break apart : burst

2

a

: to become divided up or separated off

split into factions

split from the group

b

: to sever relations or connections : separate

c

: leave

especially : to leave without delay

split for the coast

3

British : to betray confidence : act as an informer

—usually used with on

4

: to apportion shares

split

2 of 3

adjective

1

: divided, fractured

2

: prepared for use by splitting

split bamboo

split hides

3

: heterozygous

—used especially by breeders of cage birds sometimes with for

split

3 of 3

noun

1

a

: a narrow break made by or as if by splitting

b

: an arrangement of bowling pins left standing with space for pins between them

2

: a piece split off or made thin by splitting

3

a

: a division into or between divergent or antagonistic elements or forces

a cultural split

b

: a faction formed in this way

4

a

: the act or process of splitting something (such as the stock of a corporation)

b

: the act of lowering oneself to the floor or leaping into the air with legs extended at right angles to the trunk

5

: a product of division by or as if by splitting

6

: a wine bottle holding one quarter the usual amount or about .1875 liters (6 to 6.5 ounces)

also : the quantity held by a split

7

: an ice cream sundae served over slices of fruit (such as banana)

8

: the recorded time at or for a specific part of a race

Phrases

split hairs

: to make oversubtle or trivial distinctions

split one's sides

: to laugh heartily

split the difference

: to arrive at a compromise

Synonyms

Verb

• break up
• decouple
• disassociate
• disconnect
• disjoin
• disjoint
• dissever
• dissociate
• disunite
• divide
• divorce
• part
• ramify
• resolve
• separate
• sever
• sunder
• uncouple
• unlink
• unyoke

Adjective

• disunited
• divided

Noun

• check
• chink
• cleft
• crack
• cranny
• crevice
• fissure
• rift

Choose the Right Synonym for split

tear, rip, rend, split, cleave, rive mean to separate forcibly.

tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges.

tear up the letter

rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint.

ripped the shirt on a nail

rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering.

an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes

split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers.

split logs for firewood

cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow.

a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak

rive occurs most often in figurative use.

a political party riven by conflict

Examples of split in a Sentence

Verb

The board split in two.

The hull of the ship split apart on the rocks.

A large chunk of ice split off from the iceberg and crashed into the water.

She split the muffin and gave me half.

The class split into several small groups.

Two of the band members split off to form their own band.

The teacher split the class into groups.

The river splits the town in two.

The party is split over the issue of taxes.

The church split into moderate and conservative factions.

Adjective

opinions are split on the subject

Noun

There's a split down the back of your jacket.

The new policy has caused a split in the organization.

a split between liberals and conservatives

a wide split of opinions

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Women often lose income, take on the bulk of caregiving, and carry the invisible labor of rebuilding a life, while men complain of the long-tail financial consequences of alimony, support payments, and assets split down the middle. —Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025

Weeks after rumors spread that Californian experimental hip-hop trio Death Grips had split, the band have now taken to social media to deny these claims. —Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2025

Adjective

These belts require a bike to have a split chainstay to install them, and removing the rear wheel to deal with a flat can be cumbersome. —Chris Cona, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2025

Much is at stake in this multimillion-dollar special election, in part because the results will determine whether the current, evenly split county board will have a Democratic or Republican majority. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025

Noun

Indeed 44% of the respondents surveyed think that AI’s effect on individual agency and ability to act independently is likely to be more negative than positive with only 16% predicting a fairly equal split between positive and negative change. —Tracey Follows, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

Studios tend to dismiss China’s impact given the low split and lack of ancillary sales, but the market there can still help burnish a film’s global box office take. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Dutch splitten, from Middle Dutch; akin to Middle High German splīzen to split and probably to Old High German spaltan to split

First Known Use

Verb

1567, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing split

• banana split
• lickety-split
• pre-split
• split-brain
• split decision
• split end
• split-fingered fastball
• split infinitive
• split leaf philodendron
• split-level
• split on
• split pea
• split personality
• split rail
• split screen
• split second
• split-second decision
• split shift
• split shot
• split the ticket
• split ticket
• stock split

Rhymes for split

• bit
• brit
• britt
• chit
• fit
• flit
• grit
• hit
• it
• kitt
• knit
• lit

Kids Definition

split

1 of 3 verb

ˈsplit 

split; splitting

1

a

: to divide lengthwise or by layers

split a log

b

: to divide or separate as if by forcing apart

a river split the town

families were often split up

c

: to mark (a ballot) or cast (a vote) for candidates of different parties

2

a

: to burst or break apart or in pieces

b

: to affect as if by breaking up or tearing apart

a roar that split the air

3

a

: to divide into shares

we split the profit

b

: to divide into groups or parts

we'll split up; you take the left fork

they split into two teams

c

: to become separated off

split from the group

4

: depart sense 1

split for the party

5

British : inform sense 2, tell

—usually used with on

splitter noun

split

2 of 3 noun

1

: a narrow break made by or as if by splitting : crack

2

: the act or process of splitting : division

3

: the act of lowering oneself to the floor or leaping into the air with the legs extended in a straight line and in opposite directions

split

3 of 3 adjective

: divided by or as if by splitting

a split lip

Medical Definition

split

transitive verb

ˈsplit 

split; splitting

: to divide or break down (a chemical compound) into constituents

split a fat into glycerol and fatty acids

also : to remove by such separation

Legal Definition

split

1 of 2 verb

split; splitting

: to divide into parts or portions: as

a

: to divide into factions, parties, or groups

b

: to mark (a ballot) or cast or register (a vote) so as to vote for candidates of different parties

c

: to divide (stock) by issuing a larger number of shares to existing shareholders usually without increase in total par value see also stock split

d

: to divide (a cause of action) into separate parts or claims in order to institute an action for less than all

Note: Splitting a cause of action is usually prohibited.

intransitive verb

: to become divided or separated

the Supreme Court, splitting five to four, sustained the law

—R. H. Bork

split noun

split

2 of 2 adjective

1

: divided into portions, parts, or fragments

a split trial

a split stock

2

: divided by or in opinion

a split court

a split decision

Geographical Definition

Split

geographical name

ˈsplit 

city and port on the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea in southern Croatia population 166,500