Shares: meaning, definitions and examples

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shares

 

[ ʃɛrz ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

financial

A share is a unit of ownership in a company, representing a claim on part of the company's assets and earnings. Shareholders receive dividends as a return on their investment.

Synonyms

equity, ownership, stock.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
shares

Use 'shares' when referring to units of ownership in a company. This term is often used in the context of buying, selling, and trading parts of a company on the stock market.

  • I decided to buy 100 shares of Apple.
  • The company's shares have increased in value over the last year.
stock

Use 'stock' when referring to the general term for shares of ownership in a company. This term can also refer to the goods or merchandise kept on the premises of a business or warehouse and available for sale or distribution.

  • He prefers to invest in tech stocks.
  • The store needs to reorder stock before the holiday season.
equity

Use 'equity' when talking about the value of an ownership interest in a company or property. It can also refer to fairness and impartiality in a broader context, but here it is used in a financial sense.

  • He has significant equity in his home.
  • The investors are looking to increase their equity in the company.
ownership

Use 'ownership' when referring to having control over something, typically property or an organization. It emphasizes the state of having possession or control.

  • She took ownership of the family business.
  • His ownership of several properties makes him a wealthy individual.

Examples of usage

  • She owns shares in several tech companies.
  • The value of shares on the stock market can fluctuate daily.
Context #2 | Noun

social media

A share on social media refers to the act of reposting or forwarding someone else's content on your own profile. It is a way to spread information or show support for a particular post.

Synonyms

forward, repost, spread.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
shares

When you are distributing content, such as a post or article, on social media platforms to make it visible to your followers.

  • She shares interesting articles on her timeline every day.
  • Make sure to share our event details on your profile!
repost

Often used when you take someone else's content and post it again on the same platform, usually giving credit to the original poster.

  • She decided to repost the meme with her own commentary.
  • If you like this post, feel free to repost it!
forward

Typically used in the context of sending an email or message to someone else after you have received it.

  • Can you forward that important email to me?
  • He forwarded the message to the entire team.
spread

Generally used to describe the act of distributing information widely, often in an informal or more organic manner. Can have a negative connotation if the context involves rumors or misinformation.

  • We need to spread the news about the upcoming concert.
  • False information can spread quickly on social media.

Examples of usage

  • He got a lot of shares on his latest Instagram post.
  • Please like and share this important message.
Context #3 | Verb

action

To share means to divide or distribute something between people or groups. It can also refer to the act of allowing others to use or enjoy something that belongs to you.

Synonyms

allocate, distribute, divide.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
shares

Use in a financial context, often referring to portions of company ownership or equities.

  • He decided to invest in company shares.
  • The value of her shares increased significantly.
divide

Typically used when splitting something into parts or groups, often when there is an emphasis on fairness or equality.

  • Let's divide the cake into eight equal pieces.
  • The teacher will divide the students into groups.
distribute

Best used when spreading or handing out items, information, or resources broadly.

  • The charity will distribute food to the needy.
  • They will distribute flyers for the event throughout the city.
allocate

Commonly used when assigning resources, time, or tasks to specific uses or people.

  • The manager will allocate the budget to different departments.
  • Please allocate time for review meetings.

Examples of usage

  • Let's share the pizza equally.
  • She shared her umbrella with a stranger in the rain.

Translations

Translations of the word "shares" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ações

🇮🇳 शेयर

🇩🇪 Anteile

🇮🇩 saham

🇺🇦 акції

🇵🇱 akcje

🇯🇵 株式

🇫🇷 actions

🇪🇸 acciones

🇹🇷 hisseler

🇰🇷 주식

🇸🇦 أسهم

🇨🇿 akcie

🇸🇰 akcie

🇨🇳 股票

🇸🇮 delnice

🇮🇸 hlutabréf

🇰🇿 акциялар

🇬🇪 აქციები

🇦🇿 səhmlər

🇲🇽 acciones

Etymology

The term 'shares' originated in the 16th century, derived from the Old French word 'scahare', which meant 'to cut'. It was used in the context of dividing property or profits among co-owners. Over time, the concept evolved to represent ownership in companies and the dissemination of information in the digital age.

See also: sharable, share, shareable, shared, shareholder, shareholders, sharing, unshared.

Word Frequency Rank

This word ranks #1,592, placing it within important intermediate vocabulary. Learning it will significantly improve your ability to express yourself in English.