# divvy up

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/divvy-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to divide something into smaller parts so you can share it with others.

For teachers: to divide or distribute something into portions; typically used for sharing resources, money, or tasks among a group.

## Examples

- Let's divvy up the bill between the four of us.
- After the garage sale, the kids sat on the floor to divvy up the coins they had earned.
- The committee spent three hours trying to divvy up the remaining budget among the various competing departments before the fiscal year ended.

## Pitfalls

- Not "We divvy the cake up." but "We divvy up the cake." — while technically optional in some dialects, 'divvy up' is most commonly used as an inseparable unit when followed by a noun object.

## Usage notes

- Often used with physical objects or responsibilities.
- Teaching tip: the word likely comes from 'divide'; it is a more playful and casual alternative to 'share' or 'distribute' in group settings.

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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.