third-person singular verb
A person or thing divides something into smaller parts or groups, or shares it among people.
A river divides the city in half.
The school divides students into four groups.
American English
How to pronounce divides
verbB1Common word
dihVAIDZ
/dɪˈvaɪdz/
2 syllables · Stress the second syllable.
Form of divide
A person or thing divides something into smaller parts or groups, or shares it among people.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
third-person singular verb
A person or thing divides one number by another to calculate the result.
This formula divides 24 by 6.
The calculator divides 15 by 3 in seconds.
Good to know
With numbers, say “divides 12 by 3,” not “divides 12 to 3.”
third-person singular verb
A person, event, or idea divides people by causing them to disagree or support different sides.
The issue divides the community.
The debate divides voters into two camps.
Useful expressions
to control a group by making its members disagree with one another
The general used divide and conquer to defeat the larger army.
to reduce a serious difference between people or groups
The two leaders met to bridge the divide.
Related words & forms
The final e disappears before -ing: dividing, not divideing.