split

SPLIT/splɪt/

Verbsplits, splitting, split

Noun pluralsplits

35 meanings of split

Practice

1
cut apartverbtransitive or intransitive
To break or cut something into parts, often in a long straight line, or to break open like this.
Like cutting a sandwich straight down the middle into two halves.
Lumberjacks split logs along the grain with heavy wedges.
Dad showed me how to split logs for the fire.
UsageThe past form is split too (not ~~incorrect: splitted~~): he split the log in two.
Similarcrack, break
Note
2
verbtransitive
To share something by dividing it among people.
Like cutting a pizza so everyone gets a slice.
Let's split the bill between the four of us.
They split the prize money evenly.
UsageUse between or among for the people: split the bill between four friends.
Similarshare, divide, halve, apportion
3
adjective
Divided or broken into separate parts.
Like a piece of paper torn into two halves.
They repaired the split seam on the tent.
The committee reached a split decision on the matter.
UsageA group can be split on or over a question, or deeply split.
Similardivided, separated, fractured
Oppositeunited, unified, whole
4
group breaks upverbtransitive or intransitive
To cause a group to break apart or start fighting, or for a group to break apart like this.
Like a small fight that turns a friend group into two angry sides.
The scandal threatened to split the whole organization.
Disagreements over money split the band apart.
UsageOften split into groups.
Similardivide, fracture, splinter, polarize
Oppositeunite, unify
Note
5
end a romanceverbintransitive
To stop being a couple and go separate ways.
Like a cracker breaking into two pieces when you bend it.
Some couples split because they argue all the time.
My aunt and uncle split when I was a little girl.
UsageYou can also say split up. One person splits from the other.
Similarseparate, part
6
nouncountable
A serious disagreement that divides a group into sides.
Like a group of friends breaking into two angry sides after a fight.
A deep split formed within the party over the new law.
The argument caused a split between the two old friends.
UsageSay a split in the party, or a split between two friends.
Similarrift, division, schism, breach, rupture
Oppositeunity, reconciliation
7
the rationouncountable
How something like money, votes, or work is shared out, or how big each part is.
The two friends agreed on a 50-50 split of the prize money.
The split of housework in their home has never been fair.
UsageOften with numbers: a 50-50 split.
Similardistribution, breakdown
8
nouncountable
A long crack or tear in something.
Like the crack that forms when dry ground breaks open.
A deep split ran down the wooden beam.
Water leaked through a split in the pipe.
9
leaveverbslangtransitive or intransitive
To leave a place, often suddenly.
Like quickly walking out the door before anyone can stop you.
Let's split before the rain starts.
They split as soon as the party got boring.
UsageOften let's split. In neutral writing, say leave or go.
Similarleave, go (entry), depart, exit, quit
Oppositestay, arrive
10
race timenouncountable
The time recorded at a point partway through a race, or for one part of the race.
Like checking the clock partway through a trip to see if you're on time.
Her split at the halfway mark was a personal best.
The coach checked each runner's split after the first lap.
Note
11
verbtransitive or intransitive
To each win one game and lose the other when two teams play twice in a day.
Like two friends playing two games and each winning one.
The two teams split the doubleheader on Sunday.
They will split if each side wins one game.
Oppositesweep
Note

Less common meanings

12
gymnastics movenouncountable
A position where your legs stretch out straight in opposite directions, usually flat on the floor.
Like the shape of open scissors, but made with your legs.
The young dancer dropped into a split at the end of her routine.
He stretches every day so he can do a split.
UsagePeople usually say do the splits, with an s.
Note
13
more sharesnouncountable
A change in which a company turns each of its shares into several new ones, each worth less.
Like cutting a pizza into more slices: you have more pieces, but the same amount of pizza.
After the split, each of her shares became two shares.
The company announced a split to make its shares cheaper to buy.
14
ice cream dishnouncountable
A sweet dish made like a banana split, with ice cream and toppings.
Like a banana split, but built around a different fruit.
She ordered a strawberry split with extra whipped cream.
The diner's famous split came piled with three scoops of ice cream.
15
shared recordnouncountable
A music recording that shares songs from two or more different artists.
Like sharing one CD between two singers, each getting half.
The two punk bands put out a split, with each contributing four songs.
Fans lined up for the limited-edition split on vinyl.
Note
16
thin piecenouncountable
A piece broken or split off from something larger, often a thin strip.
Like a tiny piece of wood that breaks off a fence.
Grandpa wove the chair seat from long ash splits.
He shaved a thin split from the white oak log.
Similarsplinter, sliver, chip, shaving
Note
17
burst laughingverbintransitive
To suddenly burst into loud laughter.
Like laughing so hard your belly hurts.
You'll split with laughter at this movie.
Her funny stories always make us split with laughter.
UsageUsually split with laughter.
Similarlaugh, roar, howl
18
baseball pitchnounslangcountable
A baseball pitch that drops sharply just as it reaches the batter.
Like a ball that looks straight, then suddenly dips at the last second.
The pitcher fooled him with a nasty split.
Her split dives down just before the plate.
UsageIn careful writing, say split-finger fastball.
Note
19
verbtransitive or intransitive
To vote for people from different political parties in one election.
Like picking your favorite players from two different teams.
Many people split their ticket to vote for the person, not the party.
I plan to split my ticket in this election.
UsageUsually split your ticket.
20
bowlingnouncountable
In bowling, a pin setup where standing pins have a gap between them after the first throw.
Like having two targets far apart that you must hit with one ball.
She left a tricky split after her first ball.
Picking up a split is one of the hardest shots in bowling.
Note
21
workout plannouncountable
A workout plan that divides exercises among different muscle groups across days.
Like dividing chores so you clean a different room each day.
His training split focuses on legs twice a week.
She follows a push-pull split at the gym.
Similarroutine
Note
22
small bottlenouncountable
A small bottle of wine or champagne, usually a quarter of a normal bottle and sometimes half of one.
Like a single small can of soda instead of a big bottle to share.
She ordered a split of champagne to toast on her own.
The minibar had a tiny split chilling on the shelf.
Similarpiccolo
Note
23
verbdatedtransitive or intransitive
To tell a secret you were supposed to keep.
Similarinform, squeal, snitch, rat, blab
Note
24
adjective
Done in parts, at different times or different prices.
25
noun
In classifying living things, dividing one group into two or more separate groups.
26
adjective
Made with half regular and half decaf espresso.
27
verb
In math, of a polynomial, to break completely into first-degree factors, or to break one up this way.
28
noun
In some betting games, the dividing of a bet when two cards of the kind you bet on come up together.
29
verb
In math, to break into simpler parts that add up to the whole.
30
verb
To contain a structure that can be written as a direct sum of others, in math.
31
adjective
In math, of a sequence, whose middle part is the other two joined as a direct sum.
32
adjective
Of an old share price, quoted in sixteenths of a dollar instead of eighths.
33
adjectivedialectalLondon
Of shares, divided into two kinds with different rights.
34
noun
One thin layer cut from an animal skin.
35
noun
In croquet, a hit that sends two balls different ways.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of split apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

First seen around 1567, from Middle Dutch and/or Middle Low German splitten, meaning "to split."

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The English word split is first attested around 1567. en.wiktionary.org
Split comes from Middle Dutch and/or Middle Low German splitten, meaning “to split.” en.wiktionary.org