carve up
Britishverb
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to cut (something) into pieces
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to divide or dismember (a country, land, etc)
noun
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informal an act or instance of dishonestly prearranging the result of a competition
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slang the distribution of something, as of booty
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The United States alarmed its tropical island territories earlier this year, detailing plans to carve up parts of the Pacific Ocean for mining exploration.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
While the season showcased Simpson’s ability to carve up defenses, there was widespread hesitation about using a premium pick on him because of his lack of experience.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
The Scottish boundary commissioners ran through a series of consultations to try to carve up the map into suitably-sized chunks, while remaining sensitive to existing communities.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2024
As they spit out vast amounts of radiation, they carve up their environment much like, well, a chicken.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 21, 2023
Jagged lines of orange and pink carve up the sky.
From "Al Capone Does My Shirts" by Gennifer Choldenko
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.
