divvy up

USAGE SUMMARY

'divvy up' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an informal term meaning to divide up something between people or groups. For example, "Let's divvy up the pizza slices so everyone gets a fair portion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

When do we divvy up the estates?

The Guardian

And they will divvy up the net.

The New York Times - Sports

And how do you divvy up the revenues?

The New York Times

But how would they divvy up the statue?

The Guardian - Film

Roles and permissions allow teams to divvy up organizational tasks and keep private files private.

University of California, Berkeley

There are many ways to divvy up a pile of cookies.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The longer it takes to divvy up Arctic territory, the higher tensions will rise.

The New York Times

The constitution requires a decennial census to divvy up congressional seats between the states.

The Economist

Or an agreement to divvy up cabinet posts, as if ours were a parliamentary system.

The New York Times

That's a lot of cash to divvy up, and a huge responsibility for those in charge.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

I think for us, we're not really a divvy-up group.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "divvy up" in contexts where an informal, straightforward way of dividing something is appropriate. For instance, "Let's divvy up the tasks to finish the project quickly."

Common error

Avoid using "divvy up" in formal or business documents where a more professional term like "allocate" or "distribute" might be more suitable. "The budget will be allocated among departments" sounds more appropriate than "We'll divvy up the budget".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "divvy up" functions primarily as a distributive verb, indicating the action of dividing and allocating something among multiple recipients. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, as demonstrated by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

10%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "divvy up" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe the act of dividing and distributing something among a group. While versatile, Ludwig AI suggests that its informal register makes it more appropriate for casual contexts rather than formal academic or professional settings. Alternatives such as "distribute" or "allocate" might be better choices for formal writing. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, and its correct usage is supported by numerous examples in Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

share out

Similar in meaning, but can also emphasize the act of giving from one's own supply.

split

A simpler term referring to dividing something, often equally.

distribute

This is a more formal way of saying "divvy up", implying a systematic allocation.

deal out

Implies a casual or spontaneous distribution.

allocate

Suggests a planned distribution, often for a specific purpose.

hand out

Suggests a direct and often informal method of distribution.

apportion

Emphasizes distributing something proportionally.

allot

Implies setting aside a portion for someone or something.

parcel out

Implies dividing something into smaller portions for distribution.

mete out

Suggests a measured or controlled distribution.

FAQs

How to use "divvy up" in a sentence?

You can use "divvy up" to describe the action of dividing something into portions and distributing it. For example, "Let's divvy up the responsibilities for the event" or "The inheritance was divvied up among the siblings".

What can I say instead of "divvy up"?

You can use alternatives like "distribute", "allocate", or "apportion" depending on the context.

Is "divvy up" appropriate for formal writing?

While "divvy up" is widely understood, it's generally considered informal. In formal writing, using words like "allocate" or "distribute" is more appropriate.

What's the difference between "divvy up" and "share"?

"Share" generally refers to using something jointly or giving a portion of what you have. "Divvy up" implies a complete division and distribution of something among a group. For example, you might "share" a pizza, but you "divvy up" the slices.