diversify
gb/dɪvˈɚsəfˌaɪ/ us/dɪvˈɚsəfˌaɪ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
make or become more varied
to add more variety to something, or to become more varied
Usage pattern:
diversify [something]; [something] diversifies
Common mistake:
Do not use diversify simply to mean “be different from”; say “A differs from B.”
Synonyms
vary (emphasizes making things different rather than expanding the range)
|
broaden (emphasizes increasing the range or scope)
|
expand (emphasizes adding more items or areas)
Antonyms
standardize (make things follow one form or pattern)
|
homogenize (make things more alike or uniform)
|
narrow (reduce the range instead of increasing it)
Collocations
diversify the menu
|diversify your diet
|diversify the curriculum
|diversify the program
|diversify the content
|diversify your routine
|diversify the range
|diversify the mix
Themes
general
|variety
|change
Examples
- The museum is trying to diversify its programs to attract a wider audience.
- Try to diversify your diet with more vegetables, grains, and protein sources.
- Over the years, the magazine's content has diversified beyond fashion and celebrity news.
Learner examples
- We need to diversify the menu.
- Her interests diversified as she got older.
Verb
business
B2
action
2
spread business or investments
to put money or business activity into different areas so that you are not dependent on only one
Usage pattern:
diversify [a business/portfolio/economy]; diversify into [a market/industry/asset]
Common mistake:
When naming the new area, the usual preposition is “into”: “diversify into renewable energy,” not “diversify in renewable energy.”
Synonyms
spread (often used for distributing risk or money across several places)
|
branch out (more informal; suggests moving into new activities)
|
expand (focuses on growth, not necessarily risk reduction)
Antonyms
specialize (focus on one product, area, or skill)
|
concentrate (put resources in fewer places)
|
focus (direct attention or activity toward one main area)
Collocations
diversify a portfolio
|diversify investments
|diversify assets
|diversify holdings
|diversify revenue streams
|diversify the economy
|diversify the business
|diversify operations
|diversify into new markets
|diversify its product line
Themes
business
|finance
|economics
|strategy
Examples
- Financial advisers often tell clients to diversify their portfolios.
- The company diversified into renewable energy after years in oil and gas.
- Tourism-dependent countries are trying to diversify their economies.
Learner examples
- She diversified her investments.
- The company wants to diversify into health care.
Verb
B2
action
3
increase group representation
to make a group include more kinds of people from different backgrounds
Usage pattern:
diversify [a workforce/board/team/faculty]
Common mistake:
This use usually takes a group as the object, such as “diversify the workforce,” not a single person.
Synonyms
broaden (suggests increasing the range of people represented)
|
integrate (emphasizes including groups that were previously excluded or separated)
|
include (emphasizes bringing people in, less directly focused on variety)
Antonyms
exclude (keep people or groups out)
|
homogenize (make a group more uniform)
|
segregate (separate groups rather than bring them together)
Collocations
diversify the workforce
|diversify leadership
|diversify the board
|diversify the faculty
|diversify the staff
|diversify hiring
|diversify recruitment
|diversify the talent pipeline
Themes
workplace
|education
|society
|inclusion
Examples
- The university is working to diversify its faculty and student body.
- The firm changed its recruitment strategy to diversify its leadership team.
- Several arts organizations are trying to diversify their boards.
Learner examples
- The school wants to diversify its staff.
- They are trying to diversify the team.
Grammar
Dictionary form
diversify
IPA
GB/dɪvˈɚsəfˌaɪ/
US/dɪvˈɚsəfˌaɪ/
Syllables & stress
di - ver - si - fy (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ver)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: diversify
- 3rd Person Singular: diversifies
- Present Participle: diversifying
- Past: diversified
Expressions
diversify away from
1/dɪvˈɚsəfˌaɪ əwˈeɪ fɹˈʌm/
phrasal verb
business
reduce reliance on one thing
to stop depending so much on one thing by using other options too
Examples
- Several countries want to diversify away from fossil fuels.
- The retailer is trying to diversify away from its reliance on holiday sales.
- Investors diversified away from technology stocks after the market fell.
diversify into
1/dɪvˈɚsəfˌaɪ ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
business
enter new areas
to begin doing business or investing in a new area
Examples
- The publisher diversified into podcasts and online courses.
- Many farmers have diversified into tourism to increase their income.
- The manufacturer plans to diversify into electric vehicles.