be divested

USAGE SUMMARY

"be divested" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts involving the removal or sale of assets or interests. Example: "The company will be divested of its non-core assets." Alternative expressions include "be stripped of" and "be rid of."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Third, Endesa's operations on the Balearic and Canary Islands, and in northern Africa, must be divested.

The Economist

But, even so, Vickers does not put a number on the extra branches to be divested.

The Guardian - Business

So they could, we think, be divested without damaging overall returns.

The Guardian

Watson wants to do the same; he wants Murdoch to be divested of his company.

The Guardian

It is very gratifying that Tallgrass is interested in retaining the employees of the entities that will be divested".

The New York Times

The first deal was forced: ING Direct had to be divested under the terms of its Dutch parent's bail-out.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Earlier in the year, Stanford University announced it would be divesting from coal and looking at the possibility of full divestment.

Huffington Post

What will you be divesting?

The New York Times

The banks "will be divesting some of the holdings they have at the moment," he said.

The New York Times

Ray seems to be divesting himself of his responsibilities – his career, his family – in anticipation of some reckoning.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But for the most part, he will be divesting himself of property his father began acquiring in 1940.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be divested" when you specifically want to convey the formal action of selling off assets, often in a business or financial context. Ensure the sentence clearly indicates what is being divested and, if relevant, why.

Common error

Avoid using "be divested" when you simply mean to get rid of something unwanted. "Divestment" typically refers to selling assets or investments, not just discarding items. Use more general terms like "discarded" or "removed" for non-asset related situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be divested" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that something (usually assets, investments, or holdings) is the recipient of the action of being sold off or relinquished. This usage is supported by Ludwig AI's analysis of numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Formal & Business

9%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be divested" is a common and grammatically correct passive construction, primarily used in business and financial contexts to describe the selling off or relinquishing of assets. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is most frequently found in news and media sources, with a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being divested and why. Alternatives like "be sold off" or "be relinquished" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be divested of

Mirrors the original phrase but explicitly includes 'of', often followed by what is being relinquished.

be sold off

Focuses on the action of selling something, often to reduce holdings.

be disposed of

Emphasizes the removal or getting rid of something, which can include selling but also other methods of disposal.

be relinquished

Highlights the voluntary giving up of something, often a right or claim.

be unloaded

Implies a rapid or eager selling off, perhaps due to urgency.

be rid of

A more informal way to express getting free from something unwanted.

be transferred

Suggests a change of ownership or control to another party.

be ceded

Implies formally giving up possession or control, often used in legal or political contexts.

be dispossessed of

Highlights the act of being deprived of something, often against one's will.

be parted with

A more general term for giving something up, without specifying the method.

FAQs

How is "be divested" used in a sentence?

The phrase "be divested" is used to indicate that something is being sold off or rid of, typically in a business or financial context. For example: "The company will "be divested of" its non-core assets."

What can I say instead of "be divested"?

You can use alternatives like "be sold off", "be disposed of", or "be relinquished" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Which is correct, "be divested" or "divest"?

Both "be divested" and "divest" are correct, but they are used in different grammatical contexts. "Divest" is an active verb (e.g., "The company will divest its assets"), while "be divested" is the passive form (e.g., "The assets will "be divested"").

What's the difference between "be divested of" and "be stripped of"?

"Be divested of" typically refers to the formal selling off of assets or investments, while "be stripped of" can refer to the removal of something, often in a more forceful or negative way. The choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.