share

¹ American  

[shair] / ʃɛər /

noun

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

   Synonyms:

   lot, quota, assessment, ration, allocation, allotment

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

3. Digital Technology.

   1. 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?

   2. an act of sharing online content with specific users on a computer network.

      You can do a video share with friends and family.

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verb (used with object)

shared, sharing

1. to divide and distribute in shares; apportion.

   Synonyms:

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

2. to use, participate in, enjoy, receive, etc., jointly.

   The two chemists shared the Nobel Prize.

3. 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: a shared spreadsheet.

   to share photos on Instagram;

   a shared spreadsheet.

verb (used without object)

shared, sharing

1. to have a share or part; take part (often followed byin ).

2. to divide, apportion, or receive equally.

3. Digital Technology. to give specific users access to online content.

   You can share via email, Facebook, or Twitter.

adjective

1. 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.

idioms

1. on / upon shares, on the principle of sharing the profits or losses of an undertaking.

   They agreed to work on shares.

share ² American  

[shair] / ʃɛər /

noun

1. a plowshare.

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share ¹ British  

/ ʃɛə /

noun

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

2. (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 profits See also ordinary shares preference shares

3. informal to share (something) with another or others

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verb

1. to divide or apportion, esp equally

2. to receive or contribute a portion of

   we can share the cost of the petrol

   six people shared in the inheritance

3. to join with another or others in the use of (something)

   can I share your umbrella?

share ² British  

/ ʃɛə /

noun

1. short for ploughshare

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share More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing share

• lion's share

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Related Words

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 Word Forms

• half-shared adjective
• nonsharing adjective
• sharable adjective
• shareable adjective
• sharer noun
• unsharable adjective
• unshareable adjective
• unshared adjective
• unsharing adjective

Etymology

Origin of share¹

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”; shear

Origin of share²

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

Explanation

When you hungrily eye the pizzas your friends ordered, count everyone in the room, and then mentally divide the number of slices by the number of people, you're figuring out your share, or portion, of pizza. Your share of something can be the part of the total that's due to you — your share of the piñata candy — or it can be the section of something you're responsible for, like doing your share of cleaning out the garage. When you use share as a verb, it means to give or distribute a portion of something. The word share and its meaning of dividing into pieces come from the Proto-Indo-European word sker, "to cut."

Example Sentences

The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.61, up 9% from the year prior and above analysts’ forecasts for $1.54.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

China’s low-cost, high-tech cars have seen explosive growth around the globe, swallowing up market share wherever they are sold.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Abbott’s first-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.15 a share and sales of $11.16 billion both slightly exceed analysts’ estimates.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

Gold.com now provides a home for leading online dealers such as JM Bullion, GovMint, Stack’s Bowers, Pinehurst Coins, and Monex, together commanding an estimated 30% share of the online North American precious-metals retail market.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

Trey hadn’t ever mentioned knowing Ethan when he would share ChickaStomp dance videos with me.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• contribution
• dividend
• division
• interest
• part
• percentage
• proportion
• stake