What does "share" mean?

1. (to use together) to use or have something at the same time as someone else. 2. (to give a portion) to give part of what you have to another person. 3. (to tell information) to tell someone your thoughts, feelings, or news. 4. (social media/computing) to post content online so other people can see it. 5. (a portion) a part of something that has been divided between several people. 6. (company stock) one of the equal parts that a company is divided into, which people can buy. 7. (plough blade) the sharp metal part of a plough that cuts into the soil.

share — meaning, definition & examples

Word

01to use together

A1 · Beginner

v. to use or have something at the same time as someone else.

v. to have, use, or experience something in common with others.

“The two sisters had to share a bedroom until they moved to a bigger house.”

“In many traditional cultures, families share large communal meals as a way to reinforce social bonds and ensure everyone is fed.”

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'with'.

Synonyms

use in commonpartake

Antonyms

monopolise keep

02to give a portion

A1 · Beginner

v. to give part of what you have to another person.

v. to divide a whole and distribute portions to others for their use or consumption.

“I forgot my lunch, so my friend offered to share her sandwich with me.”

“The charity encourages wealthy donors to share their resources with those living in extreme poverty.”

Synonyms

distribute divide hand out

Antonyms

withhold

03to tell information

B1 · Intermediate

v. to tell someone your thoughts, feelings, or news.

v. to communicate or reveal information, ideas, or emotions to others.

“Thank you for sharing your story with the group today.”

“The whistleblower decided to share confidential documents with the press to expose the company's illegal activities.”

Synonyms

disclose reveal tell

Antonyms

hide conceal

04social media/computing

A2 · Elementary Computing

v. to post content online so other people can see it.

v. to distribute digital content or provide access to network resources.

“If you like this video, please share it with your friends on social media.”

“The system administrator configured the server to share the printer across the entire local office network.”

Synonyms

post upload

05a portion

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a part of something that has been divided between several people.

n. a portion or part of something that is allotted to or contributed by an individual.

“We all did the work, so we should all get an equal share of the profit.”

“The youngest brother complained that he didn't receive his fair share of the inheritance after the estate was settled.”

Synonyms

portion part quota

Antonyms

whole

06company stock

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Finance

n. one of the equal parts that a company is divided into, which people can buy.

n. one of the equal fractional units into which the capital stock of a corporation is divided.

“He decided to invest his savings by buying shares in a local technology company.”

“The company's share price plummeted following the announcement of a significant quarterly loss and the resignation of the CEO.”

Synonyms

stock equity

07plough blade

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Agriculture Technical

n. the sharp metal part of a plough that cuts into the soil.

n. the cutting blade or distal part of a plough that makes the horizontal cut in the soil.

“The farmer had to replace the rusty share before he could start planting.”

“Modern agricultural machinery often utilises reinforced steel shares to penetrate compacted soil more efficiently than traditional designs.”

Synonyms

ploughshare

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “share” in context.

Verb

01. share characteristic

“The two species share a common characteristic: they both hunt at night.”

verb + noun

02. share data

“The app asks for permission to share data with third-party advertisers.”

verb + noun

03. share experience

“It is helpful to share your experience with others who are going through the same thing.”

verb + noun

04. share feature

“These smartphones share a key feature: a high-quality camera lens.”

verb + noun

05. share information

“The two departments need to share information more effectively to complete the project.”

verb + noun

06. share interest

“They became best friends because they share an interest in classical music.”

verb + noun

07. share knowledge

“The workshop is a great place for experts to share knowledge with beginners.”

verb + noun

08. share similarity

“The two paintings share a striking similarity in their use of bright colors.”

verb + noun

09. widely share

“His views on the new policy are widely shared by the rest of the committee.”

adv + verb

From Middle English schare, schere, from Old English sċearu (“a cutting, shaving, a shearing, tonsure, part, division, share”), from Proto-West Germanic skaru, from Proto-Germanic skarō (“a division, detachment”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut, divide”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian skar, sker (“a share in a communal pasture”), Dutch schare (“share in property”), German Schar (“band, troop, party, company”), Icelandic skor (“department”). Compare shard, shear. Doublet of eschel.

From Middle English share, schare, shaar, from Old English sċear, sċær (“ploughshare”), from Proto-Germanic skaraz (“ploughshare”), from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker- (“to cut”). Cognate with Dutch schaar (“ploughshare”), dialectal German Schar (“ploughshare”), Danish (plov)skær (“ploughshare”). More at shear.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

VERB

share(B1)

NOUN

shareholder(C1)

sharing(A2)

timeshare(B2)

proportionately rata shorting stockholder