share
sheh-uh
Share (noun) means a portion of something that is divided among people. Example: “Everyone paid their fair share of the restaurant bill.”
noun
1
A portion of something that is divided among people.
"Everyone paid their fair share of the restaurant bill."
"Each child got an equal share of the birthday cake."
"He did his share of the housework without being asked."
2
A unit of ownership in a company, representing a stake in its profits and assets.
"She bought a hundred shares in the technology company."
"My uncle gave me a single share in his small company for my birthday."
"The value of the shares went up after the good news."
verb
1
To give part of something to someone else, or to use something jointly.
"The siblings shared a bedroom growing up."
"He shared the article on social media within minutes of reading it."
"Would you like to share a taxi to the station?"
How to use share
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA portion of something, a unit of stock, or the act of giving/using something jointly.
Common pairings
fair share
share prices
share a meal
share on social media
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Word forms
- Plural
- shares
- Third person singular
- shares
- Past tense
- shared
- Archaic forms
- sharest, sharedst, shareth
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Everyone paid their fair _____ of the restaurant bill.
Etymology
From Old English scearu, "a cutting, a division," from an old root meaning "to cut or divide" — the same root behind shear and shard.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for share
See all rhymes for share →Frequently asked questions
What does “share” mean?
The word “share” means a portion of something that is divided among people. In plain terms, a portion of something, a unit of stock, or the act of giving/using something jointly.
How do you pronounce “share”?
“Share” is pronounced sheh-uh (/ʃɛɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “share” in a sentence?
Here is “share” used in a sentence: “Everyone paid their fair share of the restaurant bill.”
What part of speech is “share”?
Depending on how it is used, “share” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “share” come from?
The word “share” comes from Old English. From Old English scearu, "a cutting, a division," from an old root meaning "to cut or divide" — the same root behind shear and shard.
Is “share” a common word?
“Share” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “share” have?
“Share” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a portion of something that is divided among people.
What is the difference between share and shear?
A share is a portion of something divided among people, or a unit of ownership in a company. Shear means to cut, especially to clip wool from a sheep, or the force that makes layers slide past each other. They sound similar but belong to completely different meanings, which is why writers mix them up.
What does "fair share" mean?
Your fair share is the amount considered just or reasonable for you to receive or contribute, given how something is being divided. If four people split a bill equally, each pays a fair share. The phrase can also mean "quite a lot," as in "she has had her fair share of trouble."
Can a share mean part of a company?
Yes. Beyond a general portion, a share is one of the equal units into which a company's ownership is divided. If you buy shares, you own a small slice of the business and may receive dividends. This financial sense is one of the most common uses of the word today.
What is an example of a share?
If a pizza is cut so everyone gets an equal piece, each piece is a share. At work, you might do your share of a project, meaning your allotted part of the effort. In finance, owning shares in a company means holding units of its total value.
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