divide
gb/dɪvˈaɪd/ us/dɪvˈaɪd/
A2
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Separate into parts
To break or split something into two or more parts.
Usage pattern:
to divide [something] into [parts/groups]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'divide' with 'share'. 'Divide' means to separate into parts; 'share' means to give parts to people.
Synonyms
split (Often used more informally; can imply a more sudden or forceful separation.)
Antonyms
combine (Means to bring parts together rather than separate them.)
Collocations
divide into groups
|divide equally
|divide the room
|divide the work
|divide the land
Themes
daily life
|mathematics
|organization
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We need to divide the cake into eight slices.
- The teacher divided the class into four groups.
- A river divides the city into two halves.
- Please divide the money equally among your children.
Learner examples
- Divide the paper into two parts.
- The teacher will divide the class.
- The wall divides the garden.
- Divide the bread for everyone.
Verb
A2
action
2
Perform division in math
To do a math calculation to see how many times one number goes into another.
Usage pattern:
to divide [number] by [number]
Common mistake:
Learners may forget to specify 'by' when stating the divisor, which is necessary in English.
Synonyms
quotient (Not a direct synonym but refers to the result of division.)
Antonyms
multiply (The opposite basic arithmetic operation.)
Collocations
divide by two
|divide evenly
|divide 10 by 5
Themes
mathematics
|education
|science
Examples
- If you divide 12 by 4, you get 3.
- Divide the total cost by the number of people.
- Can you divide 100 by 25 without a calculator?
Learner examples
- Divide 10 by 2.
- We will divide 8 by 4.
- The teacher showed us how to divide.
Verb
B1
action
3
Cause disagreement or separation
To make people not agree or not be friends anymore.
Usage pattern:
to divide [people/group] over [issue]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with physical separation; in this sense it is about social or emotional division.
Synonyms
alienate (Focuses more on making someone feel isolated or estranged.)
Antonyms
unite (Means to bring people together in agreement or action.)
Collocations
divide public opinion
|divide the community
|deeply divide
Themes
society
|politics
|emotions
|relationships
|communication
Examples
- The issue of immigration has divided the country.
- The decision divided the board members.
- Her comments divided the team into two opposing sides.
Learner examples
- The war divided the country.
- The problem divided the family.
- The vote divided the group.
Noun
B2
relation
4
Difference between groups
A big difference between two groups or things.
Synonyms
gap (Often used for differences in amount, quality, or level.)
Antonyms
unity (Refers to being joined together without division.)
Collocations
political divide
|cultural divide
|economic divide
Themes
society
|politics
|relationships
Examples
- There is a growing economic divide between rich and poor.
- The cultural divide between generations is widening.
- Efforts are being made to bridge the political divide.
Learner examples
- There is a big divide between rich and poor.
- We want to close the divide between old and young.
- They try to bridge the cultural divide.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
5
Ridge separating watersheds
A line of high land that separates rivers flowing in different directions.
Synonyms
watershed (In geography, can mean both the area and sometimes the dividing line itself.)
Collocations
continental divide
Themes
geography
|nature
|space
Examples
- The Continental Divide runs through the Rocky Mountains.
- We hiked along the divide between two valleys.
- Rain falling on either side of the divide flows to different oceans.
Learner examples
- We walked along the mountain divide.
- The river starts near the continental divide.
- The divide is high in the mountains.
Grammar
Dictionary form
divide
IPA
GB/dɪvˈaɪd/
US/dɪvˈaɪd/
Syllables & stress
di - vide (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (vide)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: divide
- 3rd Person Singular: divides
- Present Participle: dividing
- Past: divided
Word family
Forms
divides
verb
dividing
verb
divided
verb
Core family
division
noun B1
Related words
divider
noun
divisive
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
undivided
adjective
indivisible
adjective
Advanced or less common
divisible
adjective
divisibility
noun
divisor
noun
Expressions
a house divided cannot stand
1/ə hˈaʊs dɪvˈaɪdɪd kænˈɑt stˈænd/
idiom
literary
Group conflict leads to failure
If people in a group fight each other, they will fail.
Examples
- They must learn to work together; after all, a house divided cannot stand.
- The speech warned that a house divided cannot stand.
bridge the divide
1/bɹˈɪd͡ʒ ðə dɪvˈaɪd/
fixed phrase
Reduce differences between groups
To make two different groups or ideas more united or friendly.
Examples
- The program aims to bridge the divide between urban and rural communities.
- Efforts are being made to bridge the political divide.
divide and conquer
1/dɪvˈaɪd ˈænd kˈɑŋkɚ/
idiom
Gain control by creating division
To win or control people by making them fight each other instead of you.
Examples
- The dictator used a divide and conquer strategy to stay in power.
- Management seemed to be playing a game of divide and conquer with the staff.