Divided: meaning, definitions and examples

Best used when talking about things that are split into parts, often in terms of opinions or resources.

• The community is divided on the issue of the new park
• The cake was divided into six equal pieces

Used when talking about keeping things or people apart, or distinguishing between different items or groups.

• We should separate the recyclable waste from the trash
• The school system keeps boys and girls in separate classes

Typically refers to breaking something into parts, often involving a disagreement or a forceful action.

• They split the profits equally among all team members
• The group split over differing political views

Refers to dividing something into parts, especially in a formal or physical sense like walls or sections in a document.

• The office space was partitioned into smaller cubicles
• The lawyer suggested partitioning the estate among the heirs

Typically used to describe a situation where something is split into parts or groups, but without a strong connotation. It can be used for both physical and abstract separations, such as opinions or territories.

• The river divided the country into two regions.
• The class was divided on the issue of homework.

Has strong negative connotations and is used to describe the act of separating groups, particularly along racial, societal, or other discriminatory lines.

• Segregating people based on race is unjust and unethical.
• The policy was criticized for its segregating effects.

Refers to cutting or breaking off something entirely, often used in a dramatic or final sense. It can be used for physical objects or relationships.

• The accident severed the power line.
• They decided to sever their business ties after the disagreement.

Used when something or someone is set apart from others, often to prevent interaction or spread. It is commonly used in scientific, medical, or social contexts.

• Doctors decided to isolate the patient with the contagious disease.
• He felt isolated after moving to the new city.

Used when something is separated into parts or sections. The term often implies a physical or abstract separation.

• The cake was divided into eight equal pieces.
• The country was divided by a mountain range.

Used when something is given out or handed out over a range of people or places. It often implies a broader or less structured spread.

• The charity will distribute food to the poor.
• The teacher will distribute the exam papers.

Used when assigning or designating resources or responsibilities to specific people, tasks, or purposes. Often used in organizational or financial contexts.

• The manager will allocate tasks to each team member.
• The budget was allocated to different departments.

Used when dividing and distributing something according to a plan or proportion. Often seen in legal, financial, or formal settings.

• The committee will apportion the funds among the various projects.
• The lawyer will apportion the estate among the heirs.