# split up

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/split-up
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to end a romantic relationship or marriage; it can also mean to divide a large group into smaller ones.

For teachers: to terminate a romantic relationship or partnership; also used transitively to denote the division of a group or entity into smaller components.

## Examples

- They decided to split up after ten years of marriage.
- The teacher had to split up the students into four groups for the science project.
- Following the internal dispute, the conglomerate was forced to split up its various subsidiaries to satisfy antitrust regulations.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They split up themselves last week." but "They split up last week." — when used to mean ending a relationship, the verb is intransitive and does not take a reflexive pronoun.

## Usage notes

- when referring to relationships, it is usually intransitive; when dividing groups, it is often separable.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'break up' (synonymous for relationships) and 'divide' (more formal for groups); note that 'split up' is very common in spoken English for both senses.

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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.