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share

¹

[ shair ]

/ ʃɛər /

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See synonyms for: share / shared / shares / sharing on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

Digital Technology.

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?
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, shar·ing.

to divide and distribute in shares; apportion.

to use, participate in, enjoy, receive, etc., jointly: The two chemists shared the Nobel Prize.

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: to share photos on Instagram;a shared spreadsheet.

verb (used without object), shared, shar·ing.

to have a share or part; take part (often followed by in).

to divide, apportion, or receive equally.

Digital Technology. to give specific users access to online content: You can share via email, Facebook, or Twitter.

adjective

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR share

1 allotment, allocation; ration, assessment; quota, lot.

4 allot, parcel out, deal, dole (out), mete.

See synonyms for share on Thesaurus.com

VIDEO FOR SHARE

What Is The Origin Of The Word "Share"?

Remember when we were kids in the cafeteria and all we shared were Lunchables and the answers to that first period math quiz? Now kids share just about anything just for a “like” on Instagram. So, where did this word come from?

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QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

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Idioms about share

on / upon shares, on the principle of sharing the profits or losses of an undertaking: They agreed to work on shares.

Origin of share

¹

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”; see shear

synonym study for share

7. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM share

shar·a·ble, share·a·ble, adjectivesharer, nounhalf-shared, adjectivenon·shar·ing, adjective, noun

un·shar·a·ble, adjectiveun·share·a·ble, adjectiveun·shared, adjectiveun·shar·ing, adjective

Words nearby share

Shara, Sharaku, Sharansky, shard, Shardana, share, share account, share and share alike, share certificate, sharecrop, sharecropper

Other definitions for share (2 of 2)

share²

[ shair ]

/ ʃɛər /

noun

Origin of share

²

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use share in a sentence

By 1984, Heinz swooped in to scoop up Chico-San’s market share.
The Rise and Fall of the Rice Cake, America’s One-Time Favorite Health Snack|Brenna Houck|September 17, 2020|Eater
At the time, Mozilla described it as a file-sharing tool with a focus on privacy.
Mozilla shutters Firefox Send and Notes|Frederic Lardinois|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
Now, Amazon will allow users to share their favorite routines with others.
Amazon makes Alexa Routines shareable|Sarah Perez|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
Trina reported that her younger sister was doing “better” and would share more details about what she experienced when she was ready.
Trina Braxton To David Adefeso: ‘When You Attack One, You Attack Us All’|Hope Wright|September 17, 2020|Essence.com

Little wonder Square’s share price has climbed 150% this year.
‘Square is a beast’|Jeff|September 16, 2020|Fortune
Cosby conspiracy theorists share a perspective born of a long, pained history of American racism.
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers|Stereo Williams|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We have to share those feelings of concern that the people are feeling.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Mr. Bachner said it had been hard to introduce his work ethic and share his vision with the locals and his team.
The Photographer Who Gave Up Manhattan for Marrakech|Liza Foreman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Getting men to do their share of care and domestic work is a key overlooked strategy in reducing poverty.
How Good Dads Can Change the World|Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Perhaps it always seems that way at the time, but surely we face our fair share right now.
In 2015, Let’s Try for More Compassion|Gene Robinson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The foster-child remained behind to share the hut of the political exile.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Rent, the share of the land-owner, offered to the classicist a rather peculiar case.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
Murat, who had earnestly begged to be allowed to share the Austrian campaign of 1809, was delighted to serve in person.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
It is almost unnecessary to add, that the porter had his share well paid, and that the fisherman got the full value for his prize.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
But Yung Pak was not allowed to share the pleasures and the trials of the boys in the public school.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike

British Dictionary definitions for share (1 of 2)

share¹

/ (ʃɛə) /

noun

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

(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 profitsSee also ordinary shares, preference shares

go shares informal to share (something) with another or others

verb

(tr often foll by out) to divide or apportion, esp equally

(when intr, often foll by in) to receive or contribute a portion ofwe can share the cost of the petrol; six people shared in the inheritance

to join with another or others in the use of (something)can I share your umbrella?

Derived forms of share

sharable or shareable, adjectivesharer, noun

Word Origin for share

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

British Dictionary definitions for share (2 of 2)

share²

/ (ʃɛə) /

noun

short for ploughshare

Word Origin for share

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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with share

share

In addition to the idiom beginning with share

share and share alike

also see:

lion's share

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.