Divest oneself of Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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divest oneself of

[dɪˈvest wʌnˈself ʌv ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

formal

To get rid of or give up something, especially power, authority, or possession. It is often used in a formal context to describe the act of relinquishing control or ownership.

Synonyms

abdicate, dispose of, relinquish.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
divest oneself of	Typically used in a formal context where someone is getting rid of or stripping away possessions, responsibilities, or affiliations. This phrase carries a sense of intentional and purposeful action. She decided to divest herself of her shares in the company. After much thought, he divested himself of his leadership responsibilities.
dispose of	This phrase is used when someone is getting rid of something, typically by discarding, selling, or transferring it. It is a neutral term that can be used in various contexts. You should dispose of those old batteries properly. He plans to dispose of his old car this weekend.
relinquish	Commonly used to describe the act of giving up control, rights, or claims, often reluctantly or after significant effort. This term suggests a degree of attachment or difficulty in letting go. She reluctantly relinquished control of the project. He had to relinquish his claim to the property after the court ruling.
abdicate	Often used when someone formally renounces a throne, high office, dignity, or function. This word carries a sense of abandoning or stepping down from a position of power, often with negative connotations. The king abdicated the throne in favor of his son. She abdicated her responsibilities as president, leaving the company in chaos.

Examples of usage

I decided to divest myself of all my shares in the company.
The king was forced to divest himself of his crown and title.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

business

To sell off assets, investments, or subsidiaries in order to reduce or eliminate financial risk. This term is commonly used in the business world to describe the process of streamlining a company's operations.

Synonyms

disinvest, liquidate, sell-off.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
divest oneself of	Used when someone wants to get rid of an asset or responsibility they no longer want or need, often for ethical or personal reasons. She decided to divest herself of her shares in the company to focus on her new business venture The organization plans to divest itself of ties to unethical suppliers
liquidate	Used in financial and business contexts when converting assets into cash, often during the winding down of a business or settling debts. The company had to liquidate its assets to pay off creditors during bankruptcy He decided to liquidate his investment portfolio to fund his new project
sell-off	Describes the act of selling a significant amount of assets, often quickly, typically because of falling prices or to raise cash. This term can carry a negative connotation if implying financial distress. There was a massive sell-off in the stock market after the unexpected announcement Fearing further losses, the firm decided on a sell-off of its non-core assets
disinvest	Refers to the process of withdrawing investments from a particular area or business sector, often due to strategic or economic reasons. In light of recent losses, the company decided to disinvest from the declining market sector The investor chose to disinvest due to the region's unstable political climate

Examples of usage

The company decided to divest itself of its non-core businesses.
They divested themselves of the failing division to focus on more profitable ventures.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'divest oneself of'

The word 'divest' originated from the Latin word 'divestire', which means 'to undress' or 'to strip'. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to signify the act of getting rid of something or stripping oneself of possessions or authority. The term has been used in various contexts, from personal ownership to financial restructuring.