divide
divide — verb
1. to break something into several separate pieces, sections, or groups, or for som
to break something into several separate pieces, sections, or groups, or for something to come apart naturally.
Apinya divided the cake into eight equal pieces so that everyone got a slice.
transitive: divide + object + into + [number] + parts
The teacher divided the class into four small groups for the science fair.
Eli took the scissors and divided the sheet of paper into two long strips for his art project.
transitive: physically cut with a tool into specific parts
When the road divides near the lake, take the left path towards the camping site.
intransitive: road/path + divides
The children divided the LEGO bricks between the two boxes.
- divide something into groups
- divide something in half
- divide something equally
- divide something between/among people
- divide something from something else
Grammar Patterns
divide + object + into + parts
divide + object + between/among + people/places
subject + divides (intransitive — roads, groups)
Usage Note
Frequently used with into to specify the resulting parts. With between/among, the focus is on distribution across recipients or locations rather than the act of cutting.
Common Mistakes
2. to make the people in a group hold different opinions about an issue, often crea
to make the people in a group hold different opinions about an issue, often creating two opposing sides.
The question of school uniforms divided the parents' committee deeply.
transitive: [issue] + divides + [group]
Opinions are divided on whether the old park should get a new playground.
passive: opinions + are divided + on + [issue]
The proposed changes divided the staff into supporters and those who opposed them.
divide + [group] + into + [opposing sides]
The community was divided over whether to build a new shopping mall.
- divided over something
- divided on an issue
- divided about something
- deeply divided
- sharply divided
- unite
bring people together around a common view
Grammar Patterns
divide + [group] + into + [opposing sides]
be divided + over/about/on + [issue]
Usage Note
Commonly appears in the passive voice (be divided) or with a direct object that is a collective noun (community, committee, family, staff, party). Frequently followed by over, about, or on to name the issue.
Common Mistakes
3. when a physical feature like a wall, road, or river runs between two places, it
when a physical feature like a wall, road, or river runs between two places, it creates a clear separation between them.
A narrow stream divides the two farms that have been in the family for generations.
divide + [two things] — no from needed
The main road divides the residential area from the business district.
divide + [area A] + from + [area B]
A low stone wall divides the Watanabes' garden from their neighbour's yard.
The mountain range divides the coastal region from the inland plains.
The river divides the old town from the new shopping centre.
transitive: divide + [area A] + from + [area B]
- divide one area from another
- divide two properties
- divided by a wall/river/road
- separate
broader; works for both physical and abstract separations
- mark the limit of
descriptive phrase; less common as a single verb
Grammar Patterns
divide + [area A] + from + [area B]
Usage Note
Subject is almost always a physical feature (fence, wall, river, road, mountain). Not used for abstract boundaries (use separate instead).
Common Mistakes
4. to give portions of something to several people so that everyone receives a fair
to give portions of something to several people so that everyone receives a fair part.
Christopher and his brother divided the household chores equally between them.
divide + object + equally + between + [two]
The prize money was divided among the three winners of the contest.
passive: was divided among + [group of three+]
The children divided the sweets after the birthday party.
The landlord divided the profits from the farm with the workers each season.
- divide equally
- divide fairly
- divide profits
- divide chores
- divide among/between recipients
- share
softer, more general; less emphasis on exact portions
- distribute
more formal; can be systematic or official
- allocate
formal; emphasizes assigning for specific purposes
Grammar Patterns
divide + object + between + [two people/groups]
divide + object + among + [three or more]
Usage Note
Between is preferred when naming exactly two recipients; among is used for three or more. The object is typically a divisible resource (money, food, work, land).
Common Mistakes
5. to work out how many equal groups a quantity can be split into by a particular a
to work out how many equal groups a quantity can be split into by a particular amount — for instance, splitting twelve into groups of three gives four groups.
The teacher showed the class how to divide 24 by 6 using plastic counters on the table.
pattern: divide + number + by + divisor
Divide a pizza into eight slices and each piece is one eighth of the whole.
divide + object + into + number + parts
Ravindra divided the camping cost by five so everyone paid the same share.
The children learned to divide on paper before using calculators.
- divide by
- divide into [parts]
- divide evenly
- can / cannot be divided by
- multiply
the inverse mathematical operation
Grammar Patterns
transitive: divide + number + by + number
intransitive: number + divides into + number
Usage Note
The standard preposition after a number is "by": divide 12 by 3 (not "with" or "on"). When describing the result, use "into": 12 divides into 3 equal groups.
Common Mistakes
6. to choose how much attention, effort, or other limited resources to put toward e
to choose how much attention, effort, or other limited resources to put toward each of several different tasks or activities.
Ritu divides her time between studying law and working at a café.
divide + time + between + [two activities]
You need to divide your energy carefully across all the tasks today.
Gabriel divided his attention between the phone call and the soup he was cooking.
The manager divided the team's budget among three different marketing campaigns.
divide + [resource] + among + [multiple activities]
- divide time
- divide energy
- divide attention
- divide resources
- divide budget
- concentrate
focus all resources on one activity
Grammar Patterns
divide + [time/energy/attention/resources] + between + [activities]
Usage Note
Object is usually an abstract resource: time, energy, attention, budget, effort. Typical pattern is divide [resource] between [two activities] or among [several].
7. to deliberately create conflict among the people or groups you lead as a way of
to deliberately create conflict among the people or groups you lead as a way of stopping them from joining forces against you, so you hold on to your authority.
The dictator used divide and rule to stop ethnic groups from uniting against him.
fixed phrase: divide and rule
The manager gave each team different details and divided the staff to protect his authority.
divide + people + and + consequence clause
Some politicians deliberately divide communities along religious lines to preserve their own influence.
divide + communities + along [lines]
A good leader unites people, but a selfish leader divides them to stay in charge.
- divide and rule
- divide and conquer
- divide the opposition
- divide communities along [lines]
- deliberately divide
- split up
less deliberate; can be neutral or physical separation
- set against each other
emphasises the conflict created between the parties
- unite
bring together as one group — the opposite goal
Grammar Patterns
divide + people / group + to infinitive
Usage Note
Often appears in the fixed strategy phrases "divide and rule" or "divide and conquer." The object is typically a group, community, or organization that could otherwise unite against an authority.
Common Mistakes
8. when a larger amount can be evenly split by a smaller amount, leaving no extra p
when a larger amount can be evenly split by a smaller amount, leaving no extra portion — for instance, six goes into eighteen three times with nothing left over.
Bilal checked whether 7 divides into 28 — it does, exactly four times with no remainder.
pattern: number + divides into + number (intransitive)
Elena has 36 cupcakes for her 9 guests — she checks whether 9 divides into 36, then gives 4 to each person.
pattern: number + divides into + number (intransitive, concrete scenario)
The teacher asked students to list all whole numbers that divide into 30 evenly.
collocation: divides into [number] without leaving a remainder
The 20 students at the debate club split into pairs — 2 divides into 20 with none left over, making 10 teams.
pattern: number + divides into + number (intransitive, concrete scenario)
- divides into [number]
- divides evenly into
- [number] divides into [number] exactly
- divides [number] times
- remain
what happens when the division is not exact — there is a leftover amount
Grammar Patterns
number + divides into + number
Usage Note
This sense is always intransitive and takes "into": the smaller number divides into the larger one. The focus is on whether the operation yields an exact whole number, not on performing the calculation (see sense 8 for the calculation itself).
Common Mistakes
9. when members of a law-making body walk into separate groups to record their vote
when members of a law-making body walk into separate groups to record their votes for or against a proposal.
The House of Commons divided on the proposed tax reform late last night.
The House + divides + on + [issue]
After hours of heated debate, the members divided and the Speaker announced the result.
The parliament divided at nine o'clock, with a clear majority in favour of the bill.
The members divided on the education amendment just before the session ended.
intransitive: members + divided + on + [issue]
- the House divides
- parliament divides
- divide on a bill
- divide on an amendment
- vote by division
the full procedural term; not a single verb
Grammar Patterns
The House/Parliament + divides + (on + [issue])
Usage Note
Restricted to parliamentary procedure, primarily in British and Commonwealth political systems. The verb is always intransitive in this sense. Never used for ordinary voting.
Common Mistakes
divide and rule
idiomTo maintain power by making people argue with each other so they cannot unite against you.
The emperor used divide and rule to control his vast empire.
Why do some leaders still practice divide and rule in modern politics?
To separate something into two equal parts, or to be separated into two equal parts.
Maya split the pizza down the middle so each friend got half.
The community divided down the middle over the new park proposal.
divide — noun
1. a noticeable difference or gap between two groups, ideas, or situations that kee
a noticeable difference or gap between two groups, ideas, or situations that keeps them apart from each other
The growing divide between the rich and the poor is a problem in many countries.
collocation: growing divide
Bridging the digital divide in rural areas remains a key challenge for the government.
collocation: digital divide / bridge the divide
Femi noticed a clear divide between what the company promised and what it actually delivered.
clear divide between [something] and [something]
A cultural divide separated the two neighboring villages for generations.
The study found a sharp divide in attitudes between younger and older employees.
- growing divide
- digital divide
- cultural divide
- sharp divide
- bridge the divide
- deepen the divide
- gap
more concrete; can refer to physical spaces or abstract differences
- difference
more neutral; does not necessarily imply separation or opposition
- chasm
stronger, more dramatic; suggests a very wide or deep separation
- unity
the state of being joined together as a whole
Grammar Patterns
the divide between [noun] and [noun]
Usage Note
Frequently used with adjectives such as 'growing', 'sharp', 'clear', 'deep', 'wide'. The noun is almost always singular in this sense.
Common Mistakes
2. a strong disagreement that separates groups of people and creates tension or hos
a strong disagreement that separates groups of people and creates tension or hostility between them
The proposed policy opened a deep divide among members of the city council.
deep divide among [group]
Devika tried to heal the divide between the two departments after months of arguments.
heal the divide between [group] and [group]
The ethnic divide in the region has led to years of mistrust and occasional violence.
A religious divide runs through the country, affecting everything from politics to education.
The divide over immigration policy shows no sign of narrowing anytime soon.
divide over [issue/topic]
- deep divide
- heal the divide
- ethnic divide
- political divide
- widen the divide
- religious divide
- consensus
general agreement among a group
Grammar Patterns
the divide between [group] and [group] over [issue]
Usage Note
Unlike the 'difference' sense (sense 1), this sense always involves emotional tension or active hostility between groups. Frequently found in political, social, and organisational contexts. Common collocating verbs: 'heal', 'widen', 'deepen', 'create', 'open up'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- divisionnounB1
- dividedadjectiveB2
- dividingadjectiveB2
- undividedadjectiveB2
- divisiveadjectiveC1
- indivisibleadjectiveC1
- subdivideverbB2
- subdivisionnounC1
- dividernounC1
- dividendnounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four words describe pulling things apart, but they differ in force, formality, and scope. Divide focuses on breaking a whole into parts, often with a plan — you divide a cake into slices or a class into groups. Separate is the broadest: two people can be separated by distance, a filter can separate solids from liquids, and no cutting or splitting is required. Split is more forceful and often informal; a log splits along its grain, and a group splits into factions after a quarrel. Partition is formal and tends to refer to dividing a space or system with a clear boundary — a wall partitions a room, or an agreement partitions a disputed territory. For everyday sharing, use divide; for simply keeping apart, use separate; for a more dramatic or physical break, use split; and for official or spatial division, use partition. For example: "We divided the pizza among four of us," "A curtain separates the bedroom from the living area," "The team split over the new policy," and "The treaty partitioned the region into two zones."
Common collocations
Etymology
Divide traces back to the Latin verb dīvidere, meaning 'to separate, to force apart, to distribute.' The Latin root combines the prefix dī- (a variant of dis- 'apart') with -videre (related to vidua 'widow,' literally meaning 'a separated woman'). The word entered English in the 14th century through Old French divider, and its mathematical sense — splitting a number into equal parts — developed before the 16th century. The noun sense (as in 'the digital divide') emerged much later, in the mid-20th century, extending the idea of separation from physical objects to abstract gaps between groups.