divest

[ dih-vest, dahy- ]

/ dɪˈvɛst, daɪ- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR divest 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.

Nearby words

divertimento, diverting, divertissement, divertive, dives, divest, divestible, divestiture, divesture, divi, divi-divi

Origin of divest

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin dīvestīre, equivalent to dī- di-² + vestīre to dress, vest

SYNONYMS FOR divest

1 unclothe, denude.

2 See strip¹.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR divest ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

un·di·vest·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for divest

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

And a movement to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel is gaining force around the world.
Israel’s Self-Inflicted Isolation|Peter Beinart|September 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
There was, however, an aukward consciousness in my conduct towards him, I could not divest myself of.
The Sylph, Volume I and II|Georgiana Cavendish
And in order to divest them of those he admits for the sake of argument that they are what in reality they are not.
Epistle Sermons, Vol. II|Martin Luther
But do what she would, St. Udo could not divest himself of the conviction that she and the fair Sabrina figure were identical.
Faithful Margaret|Annie Ashmore
In order, therefore, to divest our statement of all ornament, we shall describe the whole of the events of an agricultural year.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 55, No. 344, June, 1844|Various
"No need to use strong language, Mr. Mallalieu," he said deprecatingly, as he calmly proceeded to divest the other hand.
The Borough Treasurer|Joseph Smith Fletcher

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

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