Share is a very common English word with several related meaningsdifferent senses or interpretations a word can have. It can mean a portiona part or amount separated from a larger whole of something, a stock market unit, the act of dividing something up, or the act of having something in common or letting others know about it. The exact meaning depends on whether it is used as a noun or a verba word that expresses an action, state, or occurrence.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ʃer/
Easy pronunciation: SHAIR (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable; stress is on the only syllable.
Verb sense: to have, give, or receive a portion of something together with others.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Share Meaning
to use, enjoy, or divide something with other people
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to have, give, or receive a portion of something together with others
Example: We shared the cake after dinner.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- partake — Works when people take part in or enjoy something together.
- partake in — More formal; works in some contexts, but not as natural as share.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Share
Meaning 2
the part of the work or effort someone does
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the effort contributed by a person in bringing about a result
Example: They all did their share of the work.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- contribution — A person’s part in helping achieve a result.
- part — Works in the sense of one’s portion of work or responsibility.
Meaning 3
the amount that belongs to someone
Part of speech: noun
Definition: assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group
Example: He wanted his share in cash.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- part — Possible in the sense of one person's portion.
- percentage — Can fit when the share is a fraction of a larger amount, but is more specific.
- portion — A part of a larger amount that belongs to someone.
Meaning 4
the blade-like part of a plough that cuts the soil
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a sharp steel wedge that cuts loose the top layer of soil
Example: —
Synonyms for this meaning:
- ploughshare — The standard term for this farming tool part.
- plowshare — US spelling of ploughshare.
Meaning 5
one amount that is separated out from a larger whole
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the allotment of some amount by dividing something
Example: Death gets more than its share of attention from theologians.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- parcel — A portion or lot of something.
- portion — A divided part of a whole.
Meaning 6
to divide something and give each person a part
Part of speech: verb
Definition: give out as one's portion or share
Example: The host shared the snacks among the guests.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- apportion — To divide and assign parts.
- deal — Works in the sense of distributing things.
- divvy up — Informal but natural for dividing something among people.
- portion out — To divide and distribute in portions.
Meaning 7
to tell someone something or let them know it
Part of speech: verb
Definition: communicate
Example: I'd like to share this idea with you.
Meaning 8
to have the same thing, quality, or feeling as someone or something else
Part of speech: verb
Definition: have in common
Example: Our children share a love of music.
Meaning 9
to use something together with another person or group
Part of speech: verb
Definition: use jointly or in common
Example: —
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Share Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- partake
- partake in
the effort contributed by a person in bringing about a result
- contribution
- part
assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group
- portion
- part
- percentage
a sharp steel wedge that cuts loose the top layer of soil
- ploughshare
- plowshare
the allotment of some amount by dividing something
- portion
- parcel
give out as one's portion or share
- apportion
- deal
- divvy up
- portion out
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse share as a verb meaning "have something in common" with share meaning "divide and distribute."
- Do not confuse noun share meaning a portion with shares meaning stocks on the stock market.
- Do not confuse share with ploughshare/plowshare, which is a farming tool part, not the general word for division or ownership.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common meaning of share?
The most common everyday meaning is to use, enjoy, or divide something with other people, as in We shared the cake.
What are the best synonyms for share?
For the main verb sense, the best close synonyms are partake and, in some contexts, partake in. For other senses, good matches include portion, contribution, apportion, and divvy up, depending on the meaning.
Is share always a verb?
No. Share can also be a noun, meaning a portion, a person’s contribution, a stock-market unit, or a plough part.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.