divide

UK: /dɪˈvaɪd/ US: /dɪˈvaɪd/ ,(di vīd′)

Inflections of 'divide' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

divides

v 3rd person singular

dividing

v pres p

divided

v past

divided

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

di•vide /dɪˈvaɪd/   v., -vid•ed, -vid•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to (cause to) become separated into parts: [~ + object]
   I divided the class and took one section to the library and left the other to write an essay.
   [~ + object + into + object]
   I divided the class into groups and took one to the library.
   [no object]
   The group divided and headed off in different directions.
   [~ + into + object]
   The audience divided into groups.
2. to deal out in parts;
   distribute in shares:
   [~ + (up +) object + among/between + object] We divided (up) the pie among the five of us.
3. to separate and classify, arrange, or put in order:
   [~ + object] She divided the pencils by color.
4. to separate in opinion or feeling;
   cause to disagree:
   [~ + object] The issue divided the senators.
5. Mathematics to separate (a number) into equal parts by division:
   • [~ + number + into + number] to discover how many times one number is contained evenly in the second:
     Divide 5 into 50; you'll get 10.
   • [~ + number + by + number] to discover how many times the first number contains the second number evenly:
     Divide 50 by 5; you'll get 10.
6. Weights and Measures to mark a uniform scale on (a ruler, etc.):
   [~ + object] The ruler is divided into centimeters.

n. [countable]

7. a division:
   a divide in the road.
8. Geology the line or zone of higher ground between two adjacent streams or drainage areas:
   At the continental divide, rivers flow east and west.

di•vid•a•ble, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

di•vide  (di vīd′), v., -vid•ed, -vid•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to separate into parts, groups, sections, etc.
2. to separate or part from something else;
   sunder;
   cut off.
3. to deal out in parts;
   distribute in shares;
   apportion.
4. to cleave;
   part.
5. to separate in opinion or feeling;
   cause to disagree:
   The issue divided the senators.
6. to distinguish the kinds of;
   classify.
7. Mathematics
   • to separate into equal parts by the process of mathematical division;
     apply the mathematical process of division to:
     Eight divided by four is two.
   • to be a divisor of, without a remainder.
8. Weights and Measures to mark a uniform scale on (a ruler, thermometer, etc.).
9. Government [Brit. Govt.] to separate (a legislature, assembly, etc.) into two groups in ascertaining the vote on a question.

v.i. 

10. to become divided or separated.
11. to share something with others.
12. to diverge;
    branch;
    fork:
    The road divides six miles from here.
13. Mathematics to perform the mathematical process of division:
    He could add and subtract but hadn't learned to divide.
14. Government [Brit. Govt.] to vote by separating into two groups.

n. 

15. a division:
    a divide in the road.
16. Geography [Physical Geog.] the line or zone of higher ground between two adjacent streams or drainage basins.
17. [Archaic.] the act of dividing.

• Latin dīvidere to separate, divide
• Anglo-French divider)
• Middle English (1325–75

Synonyms

• 1. See separate. 
• 2. sever, shear.
• 3. partition, portion.
• 5. alienate, estrange.
• 6. sort, arrange, distribute.

Antonyms

• 1. unite.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

divide / dɪˈvaɪd/ verb

1. to separate or be separated into parts or groups; split up; part
2. to share or be shared out in parts; distribute
3. to diverge or cause to diverge in opinion or aim
4. (transitive) to keep apart or be a boundary between
5. (intransitive) (in Parliament and similar legislatures) to vote by separating into two groups
6. to categorize; classify
7. to calculate the quotient of (one number or quantity) and (another number or quantity) by division
8. (intransitive) to diverge: the roads divide
9. (transitive) to mark increments of (length, angle, etc) as by use of an engraving machine

noun

1. an area of relatively high ground separating drainage basins; watershed
2. a division; split

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin dīvidere to force apart, from di-² + vid- separate, from the source of viduus bereaved, vidua widow