divest

[ dih-vest, dahy- ]

/ dɪˈvɛst, daɪ- /

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See synonyms for: divest / divested on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to strip of clothing, ornament, etc.: The wind divested the trees of their leaves.

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

to rid of or free from: He divested himself of all responsibility for the decision.

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

Commerce.

to sell off: to divest holdings.
to rid of through sale: The corporation divested itself of its subsidiaries.

OTHER WORDS FOR divest

1 unclothe, denude.

See synonyms for divest on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of divest

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

synonym study for divest

2. See strip¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM divest

un·di·vest·ed, adjective

Words nearby divest

divertimento, diverting, divertissement, divertive, Dives, divest, divestible, divestiture, dive table, divi, divid.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use divest in a sentence

Georgetown made another step toward its sustainability goals earlier this year when officials shared plans to divest from fossil fuel companies, in part because of the threat of climate change.
Georgetown University to power campus with electricity from solar plants|Lauren Lumpkin|October 29, 2020|Washington Post
He said fully divesting from any specific industry is very complicated.
Environment Report: San Diego’s Still Got Fossil Fuel Stock|MacKenzie Elmer|October 26, 2020|Voice of San Diego
When they come, it’s likely that the Justice Department and FTC antitrust cases will include a request, among other remedies, that key properties be divested to restore competition.
Congressional report blasts Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook as monopolistic ‘gatekeepers’ of the digital economy|Greg Sterling|October 7, 2020|Search Engine Land
With a great strategy, you should see solid results by six months, and even more solid results by a year, but these results don’t just disappear the second you decide to divest and reallocate your marketing budget to something else.
Five reasons why SEO should be prioritized over paid media campaigns|Ryan Gould|September 4, 2020|Search Engine Watch

“I think police culture has become radically divested from the communities they’re supposed to serve,” Ginzel said.
A Closer Look at the Public Art at Chicago Police Stations|by Logan Jaffe|August 21, 2020|ProPublica
The time is ripe—and right—for action to begin that would divest Russia of the World Cup and award it to another nation.
Putin’s World Cup Picasso ‘Bribe’|Tunku Varadarajan|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Waters has become a regular of the various campaigns to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel.
Where Ban Ki-Moon Meets Pink Floyd|Sigal Samuel|November 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The Presbyterians decided to divest in 2004, and the reaction from establishment Jewish organizations was swift.
BDS Isn't About Winning or Losing|Alex Kane|July 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
They put all their weight into defeating the proposal to divest--and they won, but by a measly two votes.
BDS Isn't About Winning or Losing|Alex Kane|July 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Their first goal would be to force the university endowments to divest themselves of shares in these banks.
Michael Lewis Interviews Himself: Boycott the Banks!|Michael Lewis|April 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I endeavoured to divest myself of all selfish bias, and loved more and more to inquire into religious subjects.
Fox's Book of Martyrs|John Foxe
So shall you compass the glory of the whole world, and divest yourself of the abjectness of humanity.
Witch, Warlock, and Magician|William Henry Davenport Adams
Yet if we could only divest it of its evil smell, the wild Wood Garlick would rank among the most beautiful of our British plants.
The plant-lore and garden-craft of Shakespeare|Henry Nicholson Ellacombe
So we see that the State of Illinois did not quite divest itself of the barbarisms of the common law.
The College, the Market, and the Court|Caroline H. Dall
Divest chivalry of the religious element, and you take away its glory and its fascination.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume V|John Lord

British Dictionary definitions for divest

divest

/ (daɪˈvɛst) /

verb (tr usually foll by of)

to strip (of clothes)to divest oneself of one's coat

to deprive or dispossess

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

Derived forms of divest

divestible, adjectivedivestiture (daɪˈvɛstɪtʃə), divesture (daɪˈvɛstʃə) or divestment, noun

Word Origin for divest

C17: changed from earlier devest

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

divest

OTHER WORDS FOR divest

Origin of divest

synonym study for divest

OTHER WORDS FROM divest

Words nearby divest

Words related to divest

How to use divest in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for divest

Derived forms of divest

Word Origin for divest