Share: Definition, Synonyms, & How to Use It

By Team ABJ

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The word “share” means a portion or part of something that is divided among people. It can represent ownership in a company, where owning shares means owning a piece of that company. It can also refer to dividing or distributing something equally among individuals. Additionally, “share” can imply involvement, like sharing thoughts or participating in an activity.

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Meaning and definition of ‘share’

The word “share” can have multiple meanings and definitions depending on the context in which it is used. Here are some common meanings and definitions of the word “share”:

1. Ownership Share: As previously mentioned, a share refers to a unit of ownership in a company. When you buy shares of a company’s stock, you are purchasing ownership in that company.

2. Portion or Division: It can refer to a portion or part of something that is divided among multiple individuals or groups. For example, sharing a meal means dividing it among people so that each person gets a portion.

3. Participation or Involvement: It can denote participating or being involved in an activity or experience. For instance, “I’d like to share my thoughts” means expressing one’s ideas or opinions.

4. Distribution or Allocation: To share can mean to distribute or allocate something among people or groups. This could include resources, information, responsibilities, etc.

5. Social Media: In the context of social media, “sharing” often refers to posting or sending content (such as photos, videos, articles, etc.) for others to see or access on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

6. Equal Division or Fairness: Sharing can also imply the notion of fairness or equality, especially when dividing resources or opportunities equally among individuals.

How do you pronounce ‘share’?

The word “share” is pronounced as /ʃɛər/ in phonetic symbols. In simpler terms, it is pronounced like “sh-air.” The “sh” sound is similar to the sound in words like “shoe” or “sheep,” and the “air” sounds like the word “air” without the “h” sound at the beginning.

Synonyms and Antonyms of ‘share’

Here are some synonyms and antonyms for the word “share”:

Synonyms (words with similar meanings):

  • Portion
  • Part
  • Division
  • Allocation
  • Partake
  • Participate
  • Piece
  • Quota
  • Contribution
  • Dividend

Antonyms (words with opposite meanings):

  • Keep
  • Hoard
  • Withhold
  • Retain
  • Take
  • Keep to oneself
  • Exclude
  • Refuse

Examples of ‘share’ in sentences

1. “We decided to share the pizza equally among all six of us.”

  • Here, “share” means dividing the pizza into equal parts so that each of the six people gets an equal portion.

2. “Sheila likes to share her toys with her younger sister.”

  • In this sentence, “share” refers to giving or allowing her younger sister to play with or use her toys.

3. “I’d like to share my thoughts on the matter during the meeting.”

  • “Share” here means expressing or communicating one’s opinions or ideas about a particular topic or issue during a meeting or discussion.

4. “Investors who own shares in the company receive dividends.”

  • This sentence refers to ownership in a company. “Shares” represent units of ownership, and shareholders receive a portion of the company’s profits, known as dividends.

5. “Can you share that document with the rest of the team?”

  • Here, “share” means providing or distributing a document to the other members of the team so they can have access to it.

6. “The siblings agreed to share the responsibilities of taking care of their pet.”

  • “Share” in this context means dividing or distributing the duties involved in taking care of their pet among the siblings so that each person has their assigned tasks.

7. “Each person will have an equal share of the profits.”

  • This sentence talks about dividing the profits equally among individuals, ensuring that everyone receives an equal portion.

8. “He doesn’t like to share his personal belongings with anyone.”

  • Here, “share” means to let someone else use or have access to personal belongings, but the person mentioned doesn’t prefer this and keeps their possessions to themselves.

9. “Let’s share the workload so that everyone contributes equally.”

  • This sentence suggests distributing the tasks or responsibilities equally among individuals so that each person contributes their fair share to the work.

10. “The company decided to issue more shares to raise capital for expansion.”

  • In this context, “shares” refer to units of ownership in the company. The company issues more shares, offering them for sale to investors to raise additional capital for business expansion.

What are the related terms and phrases to ‘share’?

Related terms and phrases to “share” include:

  1. Divide: Similar to “share,” it means to split or separate something into parts or portions among multiple individuals.
  2. Allocation: Refers to the act of distributing or assigning resources, responsibilities, or shares to different parties or uses.
  3. Participation: Involvement or taking part in an activity, event, or process, similar to the notion of sharing in an experience or engagement.
  4. Ownership: This relates to having legal rights and control over something, as with shares representing ownership in a company.
  5. Distribution: Like “sharing,” it refers to the act of giving out or spreading something among different individuals or groups.
  6. Equity: Pertains to the value of ownership in assets or companies, similar to shares representing ownership stakes in a business entity.
  7. Contribution: Involves giving or contributing something, as in “sharing” efforts, resources, or ideas for a common purpose or goal.
  8. Collaboration: Working together or cooperating with others, involving the sharing of efforts, knowledge, or resources towards a shared objective.
  9. Allotment: Refers to the act of assigning or apportioning something, akin to sharing or dividing among different recipients.

These terms and phrases are related to “share” because they all revolve around the concepts of dividing, distributing, contributing, or being involved in something collectively among multiple individuals or groups.

Common idioms with ‘share’

Here are some common idioms that involve the word “share”:

1. Fair Share: Refers to an equal or reasonable portion of something. Example: “Everyone should contribute their fair share to complete the project on time.”

2. Share and Share Alike: This means to divide something equally among all parties involved. Example: “They decided to split the profits share and share alike among the team members.”

3. In on the Ground Floor (of a share): This idiom refers to being involved in something from its beginning or earliest stages, especially in investments like shares in a company. Example: “He was fortunate to be on the ground floor of that successful share.”

4. To Have One’s Share of Something: Implies experiencing or enduring a sufficient or expected amount of something, which could be positive or negative. Example: “She has had her fair share of challenges in starting her own business.”

5. To Go Shares: This phrase means to share ownership or profits in something, especially in a joint venture or business. Example: “They decided to go shares in the new startup company.”

Rhyming words with share

  • Stare
  • Care
  • Dare
  • Prepare
  • Welfare
  • Flare
  • Declare
  • Impair
  • Affair
  • Compare

These words rhyme with “share,” sharing a similar ending sound, which makes them rhyming words in English.

What are the other forms of ‘share’?

The word “share” can take on various forms in English, including different parts of speech and variations. Here are the different forms of “share” with examples:

1. Noun: Share

  • Definition: A portion, part, or division of something.
  • Example: “Each person will receive an equal share of the profits.”

2. Verb: Share

  • Definition: To divide, distribute, or partake in something with others.
  • Example: “Sheila likes to share her snacks with her friends.”

3. Adjective: Shared

  • Definition: Refers to something that is jointly owned or used by multiple individuals.
  • Example: “They have a shared interest in music.”

4. Adverb: Sharingly

  • Definition: In a manner that involves or demonstrates sharing.
  • Example: “She generously and sharingly offered her time to help others.”

5. Adjective: Sharable

  • Definition: Describes something that can be easily shared or distributed among others.
  • Example: “The document is in a sharable format, making it easy to send to everyone.”

6. Noun: Sharer

  • Definition: One who divides or participates in sharing something.
  • Example: “He was known as a generous sharer, always willing to help others.”

How to use ‘share’ in spoken English?

Here are some tips on how to effectively use the word “share” in spoken English:

1. Understand Contexts: Recognize the various contexts in which “share” can be used. It might refer to dividing something equally, participating, expressing thoughts, or owning a portion of something.

2. Practice Pronunciation: Ensure you pronounce “share” clearly (/ʃɛər/ – “sh-air”). Practice saying the word aloud to become comfortable with its pronunciation.

3. Use in Conversations:

  • Sharing Possessions: “I’m happy to share my notes with you for the exam.”
  • Sharing Thoughts: “Let me share my thoughts on the project during the meeting.”
  • Sharing Responsibilities: “We agreed to share the household chores evenly.”
  • Referring to Ownership: “He owns shares in several tech companies.”

4. Use Idiomatic Expressions: Incorporate idiomatic expressions involving “share” when appropriate, like “fair share,” “share and share alike,” or “have one’s share of something.”

5. Vary Sentence Structures: Experiment with different sentence structures:

  • “Could you share your experience with us?”
  • “I’d like to share my perspective on this matter.”
  • “Let’s all share our ideas to solve this problem.”

6. Be Clear and Concise: Clearly express what you intend to share or how you want to share something in conversation.

7. Consider Tone and Intonation: Use appropriate tone and intonation to convey your message effectively. Whether sharing information, possessions, or thoughts, the tone can influence how your message is received.

8. Be Considerate: Sharing involves giving or distributing. Be considerate of others’ needs and be willing to participate in sharing responsibilities, ideas, or resources.

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