# splitting

/ˈspɫɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /splˈɪtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/splitting
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. dividing into parts

verb · CEFR B1

dividing one thing into two or more separate pieces.

For teachers: the present participle of 'split', denoting the act of dividing a whole into constituent parts or groups.

- They are splitting the bill equally between the four of them.
- The company is currently splitting its operations into two distinct entities to better manage the domestic and international markets.

### 2. a severe headache

adjective · CEFR B2

used to describe a very painful headache that feels like your head is breaking.

For teachers: describing a sharp, intense, and throbbing pain, almost exclusively used to modify 'headache'.

- I need to lie down because I have a splitting headache.
- The bright lights of the stadium only worsened his splitting headache, forcing him to leave the match before the second half began.

### 3. very fast

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

moving at a very high speed.

For teachers: characterised by extreme speed or rapidity; often used in the phrase 'at a splitting pace'.

- The car drove past us at a splitting speed.
- The racehorse rounded the final corner at a splitting pace, leaving the rest of the field struggling to keep up.

### 4. a division or separation

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the process of something breaking or being divided into parts.

For teachers: the act or result of dividing or separating; in psychology, it refers to a defense mechanism involving a failure to integrate positive and negative qualities.

- The splitting of the wood was easy with the new axe.
- In clinical psychology, splitting is often observed as a tendency to view individuals as either entirely good or entirely bad, with no middle ground.

### 5. breaking chemical bonds

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the breaking of a chemical bond between atoms.

For teachers: the cleavage of a covalent bond, resulting in the formation of two separate fragments.

- The splitting of water molecules produces hydrogen and oxygen.
- The researchers focused on the catalytic splitting of carbon-hydrogen bonds to develop more efficient synthetic pathways for organic compounds.

## Examples

- We are splitting the bill for dinner tonight.
- The manager is splitting the team into two groups to handle the new project more efficiently.
- By splitting the atom, scientists released an immense amount of energy, fundamentally changing our understanding of physics and power generation.

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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.