Divide vs. Split: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 16, 2023
"Divide" typically refers to separating something into parts or sections, often mathematically, while "split" implies breaking or tearing apart, often physically.
Difference Between Divide and Split
Both divide and split deal with the act of separating something into distinct parts or portions. However, the contexts in which they're used vary. When we divide, we often think of it in mathematical or abstract terms, like dividing assets or a sum of money. The action of splitting, on the other hand, feels more tangible and is often used when talking about physically separating an object or entity into two or more parts.
Muazma Batool
Sep 16, 2023
The verb divide often implies a more orderly or systematic separation. For instance, when you divide a pie, you're likely cutting it into even slices. On the contrary, split can have a more haphazard or abrupt connotation. Imagine splitting a piece of wood; it may not break evenly.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 16, 2023
Another nuance lies in the permanence or reversibility of the action. To divide something doesn't always mean it can't be put back together, while to split something often means it's irreversibly separated. This isn't a hard and fast rule but is a general observation based on typical usage.
Muazma Batool
Sep 16, 2023
Divide also has a broader, more metaphorical usage. We can speak about a topic that divides opinion or a river that divides a city. Split, while it can be used metaphorically, usually alludes to a more evident and tangible divide.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 16, 2023
In essence, both words talk about separating things, but divide leans more towards abstract or mathematical separations, and split leans more towards physical and sometimes abrupt separations.
William
Sep 16, 2023
Divide vs. Split Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Mathematical or abstract separation.
Physical or tangible separation.
Muazma Batool
Sep 16, 2023
Broader Usage
Can be used in more metaphorical contexts.
More often used in clear, tangible situations.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 16, 2023
Divide vs. Split Definitions
◉Split
To divide or share something among several recipients.
They split the bill four ways.
Leo
Sep 16, 2023
◉Divide
To partition or classify.
The teacher divided the students into groups.
Muazma Batool
Sep 16, 2023
◉Divide
To separate into parts, sections, groups, or branches
divided the students into four groups.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
To divide (something) from end to end, into layers, or along the grain
split the log down the middle.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To form a border or barrier between
A mountain chain divides France and Spain.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
Divided.
Republicans appear split on the centerpiece of Mr. Obama's economic recovery plan.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To sector into units of measurement; graduate
The ruler was divided into metric units.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To group according to kind; classify or assign
divided the plants into different species.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
(of coffee) Comprising half decaffeinated and half caffeinated espresso.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To cause to separate into opposing factions; disunite
"They want not to divide either the Revolution or the Church but to be an integral part of both" (Conor Cruise O'Brien).
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
Divided so as to be done or executed part at one time or price and part at another time or price.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To cause (members of a parliament) to vote by separating into groups, as pro and con.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To give out or apportion among a number
Volunteers divided the different jobs among themselves.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
(London stock exchange) Designating ordinary stock that has been divided into preferred ordinary and deferred ordinary.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
A piece that is split off, or made thin, by splitting; a splinter; a fragment.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To become separated into parts
The mixture will divide into several layers if left unagitated.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
(leather manufacture) One of the sections of a skin made by dividing it into two or more thicknesses.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
A maneuver of spreading or sliding the feet apart until the legs are flat on the floor 180 degrees apart, either sideways to the body or with one leg in front and one behind, thus lowering the body completely to the floor in an upright position.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To form into factions; take sides
The party divided evenly on the tax issue.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
(bodybuilding) A workout routine as seen by its distribution of muscle groups or the extent and manner they are targeted in a microcycle.
bro split
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
(bowling) A result of a first throw that leaves two or more pins standing with one or more pins between them knocked down.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
A dividing point or line
"would clearly tip the court ... across a dangerous constitutional divide" (Lawrence H. Tribe).
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
A unit of measure used for champagne or other spirits: 18.75 centiliters or one quarter of a standard 75-centiliter bottle. Commercially comparable to 20 (US) gallon, which is 2 of a fifth.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
(transitive) To split or separate (something) into two or more parts.
a wall divides two houses; a stream divides the towns
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
A bottle of wine containing 37.5 centiliters, half the volume of a standard 75-centiliter bottle; a demi.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
(transitive) To share (something) by dividing it.
How shall we divide this pie?
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
(athletics) The elapsed time at specific intermediate points in a race.
In the 3000 m race, his 800 m split was 1:45.32
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To calculate the number (the quotient) by which you must multiply one given number (the divisor) to produce a second given number (the dividend).
If you divide 6 by 3, you get 2.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
(video games) The elapsed time at specific intermediate points in a speedrun.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
(gambling) A division of a stake happening when two cards of the kind on which the stake is laid are dealt in the same turn.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To disunite in opinion or interest; to make discordant or hostile; to set at variance.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
To divide fully or partly along a more or less straight line.
He has split his lip.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
To break along the grain fully or partly along a more or less straight line.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
(transitive) To share; to divide.
We split the money among three people.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To vote, as in the British parliament and other legislatures, by the members separating themselves into two parties (as on opposite sides of the hall or in opposite lobbies), that is, the ayes dividing from the noes.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
To leave.
Let's split this scene and see if we can find a real party.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
To separate.
Did you hear Dick and Jane split? They'll probably get a divorce.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
(ambitransitive) To (cause to) break up; to throw into discord.
Accusations of bribery split the party just before the election.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
An act of dividing.
The divide left most of the good land on my share of the property.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
A distancing between two people or things.
There is a great divide between us.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
(geography) A large chasm, gorge, or ravine between two areas of land.
If you're heading to the coast, you'll have to cross the divide first.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
(hydrology) The topographical boundary dividing two adjacent catchment basins, such as a ridge or a crest.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
For both teams involved in a doubleheader to win one game each and lose another.
Boston split with Philadelphia in a doubleheader, winning the first game 3-1 before losing 2-0 in the nightcap.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To part asunder (a whole); to sever into two or more parts or pieces; to sunder; to separate into parts.
Divide the living child in two.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To cause to be separate; to keep apart by a partition, or by an imaginary line or limit; as, a wall divides two houses; a stream divides the towns.
Let it divide the waters from the waters.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
To divide lengthwise; to separate from end to end, esp. by force; to divide in the direction of the grain or layers; to rive; to cleave; as, to split a piece of timber or a board; to split a gem; to split a sheepskin.
Cold winter split the rocks in twain.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To make partition of among a number; to apportion, as profits of stock among proprietors; to give in shares; to distribute; to mete out; to share.
True justice unto people to divide.
Ye shall divide the land by lot.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
To burst; to rupture; to rend; to tear asunder.
A huge vessel of exceeding hard marble split asunder by congealed water.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To disunite in opinion or interest; to make discordant or hostile; to set at variance.
If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom can not stand.
Every family became now divided within itself.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
To divide or break up into parts or divisions, as by discord; to separate into parts or parties, as a political party; to disunite.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To separate into two parts, in order to ascertain the votes for and against a measure; as, to divide a legislative house upon a question.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
To divide or separate into components; - often used with up; as, to split up sugar into alcohol and carbonic acid.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
To part asunder; to be rent; to burst; as, vessels split by the freezing of water in them.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To be separated; to part; to open; to go asunder.
The Indo-Germanic family divides into three groups.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To cause separation; to disunite.
A gulf, a strait, the sea intervening between islands, divide less than the matted forest.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
To divide one hand of blackjack into two hands; - a strategy allowed to a player when the first two cards dealt to the player have the same value.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To vote, as in the British Parliament, by the members separating themselves into two parties (as on opposite sides of the hall or in opposite lobbies), that is, the ayes dividing from the noes.
The emperors sat, voted, and divided with their equals.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
A dividing ridge of land between the tributaries of two streams; also called watershed and water parting. A divide on either side of which the waters drain into two different oceans is called a continental divide.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
A piece that is split off, or made thin, by splitting; a splinter; a fragment.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
a serious disagreement between two groups of people (typically producing tension or hostility)
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
One of the sections of a skin made by dividing it into two or more thicknesses.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
A division of a stake happening when two cards of the kind on which the stake is laid are dealt in the same turn.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
separate into parts or portions;
divide the cake into three equal parts
The British carved up the Ottoman Empire after World War I
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
Any of the three or four strips into which osiers are commonly cleft for certain kinds of work; - usually in pl.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
act as a barrier between; stand between;
The mountain range divides the two countries
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
The feat of going down to the floor so that the legs extend in a straight line, either with one on each side or with one in front and the other behind.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
A small bottle (containing about half a pint) of some drink; - so called as containing half the quantity of the customary smaller commercial size of bottle; also, a drink of half the usual quantity; a half glass.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
The substitution of more than one share of a corporation's stock for one share. The market price of the stock usually drops in proportion to the increase in outstanding shares of stock. The split may be in any ratio, as, a two-for-one split; a three-for-two split.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
force, take, or pull apart;
He separated the fighting children
Moses parted the Red Sea
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To separate into parts or portions.
She decided to divide the cake into eight pieces.
Lucas
Sep 16, 2023
◉Divide
To share something among a number of recipients.
They decided to divide the profits equally.
Elijah
Sep 16, 2023
◉Split
Divided so as to be done or executed part at one time or price and part at another time or price; - said of an order, sale, etc.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Divide
To perform the mathematical operation of division.
If you divide 20 by 5, you get 4.
Nolan
Sep 16, 2023
◉Split
extending the legs at right angles to the trunks (one in front and the other in back)
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
a promised or claimed share of loot or money;
he demanded his split before they disbanded
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
a lengthwise crack in wood;
he inserted the wedge into a split in the log
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart;
there was a rip in his pants
she had snags in her stockings
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
a dessert of sliced fruit and ice cream covered with whipped cream and cherries and nuts
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
(tenpin bowling) a divided formation of pins left standing after the first bowl;
he was winning until he got a split in the tenth frame
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
an increase in the number of outstanding shares of a corporation without changing the shareholders' equity;
they announced a two-for-one split of the common stock
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
the act of rending or ripping or splitting something;
he gave the envelope a vigorous rip
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
division of a group into opposing factions;
another schism like that and they will wind up in bankruptcy
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
separate into parts or portions;
divide the cake into three equal parts
The British carved up the Ottoman Empire after World War I
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument;
cleave the bone
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
discontinue an association or relation; go different ways;
The business partners broke over a tax question
The couple separated after 25 years of marriage
My friend and I split up
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
having been divided; having the unity destroyed;
Congress...gave the impression of...a confusing sum of disconnected local forces
a league of disunited nations
a fragmented coalition
a split group
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
broken or burst apart longitudinally;
after the thunderstorm we found a tree with a split trunk
they tore big juicy chunks from the heart of the split watermelon
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
(especially of wood) cut or ripped longitudinally with the grain;
we bought split logs for the fireplace
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Split
To break or separate into parts, especially along a natural line.
She split the log with an ax.
Elijah
Sep 16, 2023
◉Split
To become divided or fractured.
The seam of the shirt started to split.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 16, 2023
◉Split
To disagree or cause a rift.
The issue split the community into two factions.
Elijah
Sep 16, 2023
Divide vs. Split Frequently Asked Questions
Is splitting always physical?
Often, but not always. For instance, you can split a bill or split up with someone, neither of which is physical.
Lucas
Sep 16, 2023
Is dividing always about math?
No, divide can be used in many contexts beyond mathematics, such as a topic that divides people's opinions.
Elijah
Sep 16, 2023
Which is more systematic, divide or split?
Divide often implies a more systematic or orderly separation.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 16, 2023
Is a divide physical?
It can be, like a river that divides two lands, but it can also be abstract, like an issue that divides people's opinions.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 16, 2023
Are divide and split interchangeable?
While they both refer to separation, divide often implies a mathematical or systematic separation, while split suggests a more physical, sometimes abrupt break.
Muazma Batool
Sep 16, 2023
Can you split an opinion?
Typically, we'd say an issue "divides" opinion, but it's possible to say an issue "split" a group's opinion, especially if it caused a clear rift.
Muazma Batool
Sep 16, 2023
Can something split evenly?
Yes, while split can imply an uneven break, it's possible for things to split evenly, like splitting a bill.
Henry
Sep 16, 2023
If I cut a cake, did I divide or split it?
Both can apply. You can divide a cake into slices or split a cake with someone, though divide might imply more precise portions.
William
Sep 16, 2023
Which suggests a more permanent separation?
Split often implies a more irreversible separation, though context matters.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 16, 2023
Can you divide a log?
Typically, you'd split a log, especially with an ax. But if you were allocating portions of it, you might use divide.
Leo
Sep 16, 2023
Content Creators
Written by
Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
Edited by
Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
