# Cleave

/ˈkɫiv/ (US) · /klˈiːv/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cleave
Updated: 2026-10-07

## Definition

to split something apart with a sharp tool, or to stick very closely to something. It is a strange word because it has two opposite meanings: to separate or to stay together.

For teachers: to split or sever something, typically along a natural grain or line; alternatively, to adhere firmly and loyally to a person or belief. The two senses are auto-antonyms, derived from two distinct Old English verbs.

## Examples

- The woodcutter used a heavy axe to cleave the large log.
- Despite the pressure from his peers to change his mind, he continued to cleave to his original principles.
- The sharp prow of the ship seemed to cleave the glassy surface of the water, leaving a foaming white wake that stretched toward the horizon.

## Synonyms

Split, divide, sever, stick, cling, adhere

## Antonyms

detach, disconnect, join

## Pitfalls

- Not "He cleaved the wood into two" but "He clove the wood into two" — While 'cleaved' is increasingly common, the traditional past tense for the 'split' sense is 'clove' or 'cleft', whereas 'cleaved' is preferred for the 'adhere' sense.

## Usage notes

- The 'split' sense is transitive; the 'adhere' sense is intransitive and requires the preposition 'to'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.