split
spliht
Split (verb) means to divide something into parts, often along a line. Example: “Split the wood along the grain with the axe.”
verb
1
To divide something into parts, often along a line.
"Split the wood along the grain with the axe."
"We split the bill evenly between the four of us."
"We split the pizza into six slices for the children."
2
Informal: to leave a place.
"Let's split before the traffic gets bad."
"I'm tired, so I think I'll split now and go to bed."
"They split as soon as the music stopped."
noun
1
A division or separation, especially in an organization or relationship.
"The split between the two founders was messy."
"A split in the party left it with two rival leaders."
"After the split, the band members went their separate ways."
2
A gymnastic move where the legs extend flat in opposite directions.
"The gymnast landed a perfect split."
"It took her months of stretching to manage a full split."
"He dropped into a split at the end of the dance routine."
3
A crack or fissure in a solid object.
"There's a split in the wooden beam that needs repairing."
"A long split ran down the side of the old wooden bowl."
"The frost left a split in the plastic water tank."
adjective
1
Divided into separate parts.
"They reached a split decision."
"A split screen let her watch both games at once."
"The split log burned quickly in the fireplace."
How to use split
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo divide something, or a division itself — used for anything from firewood to relationships to gymnastics moves.
Common pairings
split the difference
split up
a clean split
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Word forms
- Plural
- splits
- Third person singular
- splits
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ the wood along the grain with the axe.
Etymology
Attested from around 1567, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German splitten, "to split," ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root related to "splice" and "splinter."
Class of 1567
split joined the language around 1567.
See the full Class of 1567 →
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for split
See all rhymes for split →Frequently asked questions
What does “split” mean?
The word “split” means to divide something into parts, often along a line. In plain terms, to divide something, or a division itself — used for anything from firewood to relationships to gymnastics moves.
How do you pronounce “split”?
“Split” is pronounced spliht (/splɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “split” in a sentence?
Here is “split” used in a sentence: “Split the wood along the grain with the axe.”
What is another word for “split”?
Words with a similar meaning to “split” include cleft, cloven, divided and sundered.
What is the opposite of “split”?
The opposite of “split” — its antonyms — is manifold.
What part of speech is “split”?
Depending on how it is used, “split” can be a verb, a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “split” come from?
The word “split” dates back to around 1567 and comes from Proto-Germanic. Attested from around 1567, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German splitten, "to split," ultimately from a Proto-Germanic root related to "splice" and "splinter.".
Is “split” a common word?
“Split” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between split and divide?
Divide is the general word for separating something into parts, and can be neat or mathematical, as in dividing a number. Split often suggests forceful separation, usually into two along a line or crack — splitting wood or a bill. All splitting is dividing, but dividing need not involve any force.
What is the difference between split and crack?
A crack is a line or fissure where something has partly broken but usually still holds together, like a cracked mug. A split goes further, separating the material fully into pieces or along its length. A crack can widen into a split, but a split means the parts have actually come apart.
What is the opposite of split?
The main opposites describe bringing things together: join, unite, and merge. Where split separates something into parts, these words combine parts into a whole. Related opposites include connect and fuse for physical joining, and reconcile when a split refers to people or groups falling out and then coming back together.
What is an example of split?
Splitting a log with an axe divides it into pieces along the grain. Other examples include splitting a bill between friends, a road that splits into two lanes, or a group that splits into smaller teams. Figuratively, a couple or party can also split, meaning they separate or break apart.
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