divide

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'divide' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the process of separating or splitting something into two or more parts or groups. For example, 'The teacher divided the class into two groups for the activity.'.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 11.30pm BST23 30 Sean Penn and Kid Rock have made a mini-movie calling for civility in political discourse and fellowship across the partisan divide.

The Guardian

Related: Hands across the divide: Cypriots go where their politicians fear to tread Eide, a former Norwegian foreign minister who is the UN secretary general's special representative, says he does not expect Friday's meeting, the first since talks were stalled last October, to go beyond a "general exchange of views".

The Guardian

We divide them in two types: active communication tools and advanced poll tools.

The Guardian

The role and the performance that most divide critics is Christian Bale's.

The Guardian - Film

The report touched on an issue that continues to divide scientific opinion – whether it is ethical to run a clinical trial in west Africa in which some people with Ebola get an experimental drug or vaccine, while others get a placebo.

The Guardian

Many will tell you they have not forgotten the "socialist republic of South Yorkshire" of the 80s, which they feel led to poorer (Labour-voting) parts of Sheffield getting preferential treatment – a divide some say continues today.

The Guardian

The sector could divide between those institutions that plan to expand (particularly smaller institutions, alternative providers and those that have lost out from the high-tariff policy) and those looking to maintain their current status (typically older and more traditional institutions).

The Guardian

It adds (p33/4): "Our aim is to deliver a future-proofed infrastructure that will establish world-class digital connectivity across Scotland by 2020, including tackling the digital divide.

The Guardian - Tech

But Sinn Féin and the SDLP exercised a veto known as the "petition of concern" where bills can be defeated if one side of the sectarian/political divide claims there is insufficient cross-community support for the law.

The Guardian

If we needed another example of the growing divide between young workers – most of them on short-term, flexible contracts – and those, usually older, who have secured a better deal, then look no further than Sports Direct.

The Guardian

In an attempt to stamp out the digital radio divide between urban and rural areas, and to make sure listeners across the whole country can tune in to digital stations, Ofcom is also advertising a series of 12 local multiplex licences.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In discussions of societal divisions, consider the nuances and potential sensitivities associated with the term. Use it judiciously.

Common error

Avoid using "divide" passively when an active construction is clearer. For example, instead of "The cake was divided", say "Someone divided the cake".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "divide" is as a verb, indicating the action of separating something into parts or performing mathematical division. Ludwig provides many examples demonstrating its varied uses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Lifestyle

25%

Opinion

15%

Less common in

Business

5%

Travel

5%

Music

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "divide" is a versatile verb used to describe the act of separating something into parts, distributing resources, or performing mathematical calculations. As evidenced by Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it appears very commonly in various contexts, particularly in news, lifestyle, and opinion pieces. It carries a neutral formality, making it suitable for diverse communications. Be mindful of using active voice for clarity and choosing between "divide between" and "divide among" based on the number of entities involved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

split

Focuses on the act of separating something into distinct parts.

separate

Highlights the act of keeping things apart or distinct.

partition

Emphasizes the act of dividing into parts, often with physical barriers.

allocate

Implies a distribution of resources or items among different recipients.

distribute

Focuses on spreading or dispersing something among a group.

share

Highlights the act of giving a portion of something to others.

disagree

Emphasizes a difference in opinion or viewpoint, leading to separation.

sever

Implies a complete and forceful separation or cut.

bisect

Specifically refers to dividing something into two equal parts.

cleave

Implies a forceful splitting or separation, or adhering strongly depending on context.

FAQs

How to use "divide" in a sentence?

You can use "divide" to mean to separate into parts, as in "The teacher will divide the class into groups", or to calculate the quotient, as in "Divide 10 by 2 to get 5".

What can I say instead of "divide"?

You can use alternatives like "split", "separate", or "partition" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "divide between" or "divide among"?

"Divide between" is typically used when referring to two entities, while "divide among" is used for three or more.

What's the difference between "divide" and "split"?

While both involve separation, "divide" often implies a more structured or intentional separation, whereas "split" can be more sudden or random.