share

¹

[shair]

noun

1. the full or proper portion or part allotted or belonging to or contributed or owed by an individual or group.

   Synonyms: lot, quota, assessment, ration, allocation, allotment

2. one of the equal fractional parts into which the capital stock of a joint-stock company or a corporation is divided.

3. Digital Technology.

   1. a digital file or document that can be accessed by specific users on a computer network, as for viewing, downloading, or making changes to it.

      I just sent you a share—can you improve the second paragraph?

   2. an act of sharing online content with specific users on a computer network.

      You can do a video share with friends and family.

verb (used with object)

shared, sharing 

1. to divide and distribute in shares; apportion.

   Synonyms: mete, dole (out), deal, parcel out, allot

2. to use, participate in, enjoy, receive, etc., jointly.

   The two chemists shared the Nobel Prize.

3. Digital Technology.,  to give specific users access to (online content), as by posting it on a social media website or sending it as an email attachment: a shared spreadsheet.

   to share photos on Instagram;

   a shared spreadsheet.

verb (used without object)

shared, sharing 

1. to have a share or part; take part (often followed byin ).

2. to divide, apportion, or receive equally.

3. Digital Technology.,  to give specific users access to online content.

   You can share via email, Facebook, or Twitter.

adjective

1. Computers.,  noting or relating to the practice of sharing online content with specific users on a computer network.

   Add a share button to your site.

share

²

[shair]

noun

1. a plowshare.

share

¹

/ ʃɛə /

noun

1. a part or portion of something owned, allotted to, or contributed by a person or group

2. (often plural) any of the equal parts, usually of low par value, into which the capital stock of a company is divided: ownership of shares carries the right to receive a proportion of the company's profits See also ordinary shares preference shares

3. informal,  to share (something) with another or others

verb

1. to divide or apportion, esp equally

2. to receive or contribute a portion of

   we can share the cost of the petrol

   six people shared in the inheritance

3. to join with another or others in the use of (something)

   can I share your umbrella?

share

²

/ ʃɛə /

noun

1. short for ploughshare

Other Word Forms

• sharable adjective
• shareable adjective
• sharer noun
• half-shared adjective
• nonsharing adjective
• unsharable adjective
• unshareable adjective
• unshared adjective
• unsharing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of share¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English noun shar(e), sharre “cutting, division,” Old English scearu “fork of the body, groin”; cognate with Dutch schaar, German Schar “troop”; shear

Origin of share²

First recorded before 900; Middle English shar(e), sharre, Old English scear, scer; cognate with German Schar; shear

Word History and Origins

Origin of share¹

Old English scearu; related to Old Norse skor amount, Old High German scara crowd; see _shear

Origin of share²

Old English scear; related to Old Norse skeri, Old High German scaro

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on / upon shares, on the principle of sharing the profits or losses of an undertaking.

   They agreed to work on shares.

More idioms and phrases containing share

• lion's share

Synonym Study

Share, partake, participate mean to join with others or to receive in common with others. To share is to give or receive a part of something, or to enjoy or assume something in common: to share in another's experiences. To partake is to take for one's own personal use a portion of something: to partake of food. To participate is especially to join with others in some thought, feeling, or, particularly, some action: to participate in a race, in a conversation.

Example Sentences

If the shares pulled back 15%, the valuation would drop into the 27- to 30-times-earnings range, offering a potentially compelling entry point.

Read more on MarketWatch

Beyond its upgraded 2025 view, the group will provide 2026 guidance for RoTE in February and share its midterm targets in May.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

For example, a tokenized fund lets all parties share a single, real-time view of who owns what and who has paid up on their investment promises.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On an adjusted basis, which excludes one-off costs and exceptional items, earnings came to $1.03 a share.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Stripping out one-time items, adjusted earnings were 32 cents a share, far exceeding Wall Street expectations of 18 cents a share, according to FactSet.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• contribution 
• dividend 
• division 
• interest 
• part 
• percentage 
• proportion 
• stake