divest

[dih-vest, dahy-]

verb (used with object)

1. to strip of clothing, ornament, etc..

   The wind divested the trees of their leaves.

   Synonyms: denude, unclothe

2. to strip or deprive (someone or something), especially of property or rights; dispossess.

3. to rid of or free from.

   He divested himself of all responsibility for the decision.

4. Law.,  to take away or alienate (property, rights, etc.).

5. Commerce.

   1. to sell off.

      to divest holdings.

   2. to rid of through sale.

      The corporation divested itself of its subsidiaries.

divest

/ daɪˈvɛstʃə, daɪˈvɛstɪtʃə, daɪˈvɛst /

verb

1. to strip (of clothes)

   to divest oneself of one's coat

2. to deprive or dispossess

3. property law to take away an estate or interest in property vested (in a person)

Other Word Forms

• undivested adjective
• divestiture noun
• divestible adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of divest¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Medieval Latin dīvestīre, equivalent to dī- di- ² + vestīre “to dress”; vest

Word History and Origins

Origin of divest¹

C17: changed from earlier _devest

Synonym Study

See strip ¹.

Example Sentences

In 1984, when many countries were divesting from apartheid South Africa, Queen brushed aside a United Nations boycott to play a string of shows at the Sun City resort and casino.

From Salon

TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, had been under pressure to divest its ownership in the app’s U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban, due to security concerns over the company’s ties to China.

From Los Angeles Times

In January, the US Supreme Court upheld a law first passed in early 2024, banning the app unless ByteDance divested from its US operations.

From BBC

“Google will not be required to divest Chrome; nor will the court include a contingent divestiture of the Android operating system in the final judgment,” Mehta wrote.

From Salon

As the industry divests from the genre, those stories, including some of Henry’s, have migrated to streaming platforms.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bankrupt 
• deprive 
• dismantle 
• rob 
• unload