verb, noun

share

/SHAIR/ share 1 syllable

To give a portion to others; to use or have something jointly.

Word facts

Part of speech verb, noun
Syllables 1
Letters 5
Starts with S

Definition

To share means to give a portion of something to others, or to have or use something jointly. As a noun, a share is a portion or part belonging to someone.

Usage: Share can mean to divide a physical thing, to post content online, or to reveal something personal. 'She shared her feelings' uses the revealing sense.

Example sentences

  1. 1

    She shared her notes with the students who had missed the lecture.

  2. 2

    They agreed to share the cost of the apartment equally.

  3. 3

    He shared an interesting article about the history of language.

Word family

adjective shared
noun / adjective sharing
noun shareholder
Word origin

From Old English scear ('a cutting, division'), from scieran ('to cut, divide'). A share is what you get when something is cut and divided equally.

Memory tip

Share contains 'hare' — a hare splits from the group. A share is what splits off for you from the whole.

Explore this word in Word Lab

FAQ

Questions people ask

What does 'share and share alike' mean?

It means everyone gets an equal portion — dividing fairly so no one gets more than anyone else.

What is a shareholder?

A shareholder is a person who owns shares (partial ownership) in a company.