to divide or separate from end to end or into layers.
to split a log in two.
to separate by cutting, chopping, etc., usually lengthwise.
to split a piece from a block.
to tear or break apart; rend or burst.
The wind split the sail.
to divide into distinct parts or portions (often followed byup ).
We split up the frosting into separate bowls and made each one a different color.
to separate (a part) by such division.
to divide (persons) into different groups, factions, parties, etc., as by discord.
to split a political party.
to separate (a group, family, etc.) by such division.
to cast (a ballot or vote) for candidates of more than one political party.
to divide between two or more persons, groups, etc.; share.
We split a bottle of wine.
to separate into parts by interposing something.
to split an infinitive.
Physics, Chemistry. to divide (molecules or atoms) by cleavage into smaller parts.
to issue additional shares of (stock) to existing stockholders without charging them, thereby dividing their interest into a larger number of shares and reducing the price per share.
Slang. to leave; depart from.
Let's split this scene.
to divide, break, or part lengthwise.
The board split in half.
to part, divide, or separate in any way (often followed byup ).
The group of children split up into two teams. We'll split up here and meet later.
to break asunder, as a ship by striking on a rock.
to become separated, as a piece or part from a whole.
to part or separate, as through disagreement; sever relations.
They split up after a year of marriage. He split with the company after a policy dispute.
to divide or share something with another or others; apportion.
Slang. to leave; depart.
the act of splitting.
a crack, tear, or fissure caused by splitting.
a piece or part separated by or as by splitting.
a breach or rupture, as between persons, in a party or organization, etc.
a faction, party, etc., formed by a rupture or schism.
a banana split.
especially British, nip. a bottle for wine or, sometimes, another beverage, containing from 6 to 6½ ounces (170 to 184 grams).
a bottle, as of soda, liquor, etc., which is half the usual size.
a strip split from an osier, used in basketmaking.
Masonry. a brick of normal length and breadth but of half normal thickness, used to give level support to a course of bricks laid over one not level.
Often splits the feat of separating the legs while sinking to the floor, until they extend at right angles to the body, as in stage performances or gymnastics.
the amount of time it takes to complete a portion of a race, as a leg of a relay race, a lap of a track, half of a marathon, etc..
Our anchor faded over the last 50 meters of his split, and we missed the podium by six-tenths of a second.
Bowling. an arrangement of the pins remaining after the first bowl in two separated groups, so that a spare is difficult.
Philately. bisect.
one of the layers of leather into which a skin is cut.
having been split; parted lengthwise; cleft.
disunited; divided.
a split opinion.
(of a stock quotation) given in sixteenths instead of eighths of a point.
(of a stock) having undergone a split.
split hairs. hair.
split the difference. difference.
to break or cause to break, esp forcibly, by cleaving into separate pieces, often into two roughly equal pieces
to split a brick
to separate or be separated from a whole
he split a piece of wood from the block
to separate or be separated into factions, usually through discord
(often foll by up) to separate or cause to separate through a disagreement
to divide or be divided among two or more persons
split up the pie among the three of us
slang to depart; leave
let's split
we split the scene
(tr) to separate (something) into its components by interposing something else
to split a word with hyphens
slang to betray the trust, plans, etc (of); inform
he split on me to the cops
(tr) politics to mark (a ballot, etc) so as to vote for the candidates of more than one party
he split the ticket
(tr) to separate (an animal hide or skin) into layers
to make a fine but needless distinction
to laugh very heartily
to settle a dispute by effecting a compromise in which both sides give way to the same extent
to divide a remainder equally
the act or process of splitting
a gap or rift caused or a piece removed by the process of splitting
a breach or schism in a group or the faction resulting from such a breach
a dessert of sliced fruit and ice cream, covered with whipped cream, nuts, etc
banana split
See Devonshire split
a separated layer of an animal hide or skin other than the outer layer
leather made from such a layer
tenpin bowling a formation of the pins after the first bowl in which there is a large gap between two pins or groups of pins
informal an arrangement or process of dividing up loot or money
having been split; divided
split logs
having a split or splits
hair with split ends
First recorded in 1570–80; 1950–55 split for def. 13; from Dutch splitten; akin to splijten, German spleissen “to split”
If you and your boyfriend split, you are no longer together. If your pants split, they come open at the seam. If both of these happen in the same day, split! (Get out of here!) Split means to come apart or rip in two. It can be used as a verb "let's split the apple in two" or as a noun "be careful to step over the split in the earth left by the quake." It implies some violence. When firemen split open your door, they need an axe to do it.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Roberts split from “Tron” and “Country Strong” actor Hedlund in 2022 after an on-again, off-again three-year relationship.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
They formed relationships with landlords and building superintendents in order to exclusively list an apartment, charge tenants sky-high fees and then split the profit.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Japan and the U.S. will split the power sales until Japan recoups its $33 billion, after which the American government will get 90% of the revenue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Proceeds are split between regional and national charities.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
One of them, quite a young one, maybe not much older than Hannie, smiled back, and for a split second I almost relaxed.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Then she started a production company that did ‘Spooks’ and then another that did ‘River’ and ‘The Split.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026
The Split: We are going to give her half—$21,000.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026
Spurs was Tudor's 11th club as a coach after starting his career at Hajduk Split in Croatia in 2013.
From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier that has been part of Middle East war operations, arrived at the Croatian city of Split on Saturday, the US embassy said in a statement.
From Barron's ● Mar. 28, 2026
Split down the middle like a pair of secondhand pants.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
Bespoke splits the robotics theme into two baskets; one for firms with actual robotics or automation products as lines of business, and alternatively picks-and-shovels companies who produce critical components or systems.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
She doesn’t pay rent, splits grocery bills with her family and invests those savings in her music career and toward a future home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
Comcast splits from NBCUniversal, World Cup ratings are complicated,and Trump reveals $1.4 billion in crypto earnings.
From Slate ● Jul. 4, 2026
He sometimes rapped his jokes, thrived at improvising and roasted celebrities with sharp punches, leaving them in splits.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
They slide into synchronized splits and the crowd goes nuts.
From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Of course, so much of what’s otherwise known points a finger directly back at Taylor Farms, false-positive atom splitting notwithstanding, and there’s only so much the company can do to deflect.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
It’s really no wonder that Neill would go on to play characters who echoed Mark’s descent into madness, splitting off into equally extraordinary works of spine-tingling creature feature dread.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
If you think his millennial lingo is a sign that he lacks judgment in other areas, you can tell him that “you guyses” are splitting up with him.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
The couple bought the business for $115,000, splitting the cost and securing $50,000 in loans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
People were everywhere; some working in the quarry itself, others scattered about the hillside; the heftier among the men splitting boulders, the women and children chipping fragments off the larger stones.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
