Divide vs. Apart — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Published on September 20, 2023
"Divide" is a verb that refers to the action of separating something into parts, while "apart" is an adverb that describes the state of being separated or at a distance. "Divide" signifies the action, and "apart" describes the result.
Difference Between Divide and Apart
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Divide" is a verb that fundamentally describes the act of breaking something into segments or separating it into different groups. On the other hand, "apart" is an adverb that is used to indicate the state or condition of being separate or at a distance from something. While "divide" necessitates an action, "apart" often implies the end result of that action or a preexisting state of separation.
Both words, "divide" and "apart," are related to the idea of separation, but they serve different grammatical functions and appear in different kinds of sentences. "Divide" is something that you do, as in the sentence, "Let's divide the cake into six pieces." "Apart," however, adds additional information about how entities are spaced or distanced, as in, "The two friends live miles apart."
In mathematical contexts, "divide" is used to denote the action of distributing one number into another a specified number of times. In contrast, "apart" does not have a direct mathematical application but could be used to describe spatial separation in geometric shapes, such as "The two points are inches apart on the plane."
In summary, while "divide" and "apart" share a thematic kinship surrounding the concept of separation, their roles in language are distinct. "Divide" is an active verb representing the process of separation, and "apart" is an adverb that denotes the state or condition of being separate or distanced.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb
Adverb
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Action or State
Action
State
Mathematical Use
Yes
No
Example Sentence
"Divide the pie into four."
"The cities are miles apart."
Related to
Separating, distributing
Being separated, being distant
Compare with Definitions
Divide
To separate into parts.
Divide the pizza into eight slices.
Apart
Separated by a distance.
The two cities are 100 miles apart.
Divide
To partition or segregate into sections.
Divide the paper into three sections.
Apart
Into pieces or parts.
He tore the paper apart.
Divide
To distribute among a number of recipients.
Divide the toys among the children.
Apart
Indicating difference or distinctiveness.
What sets them apart is their work ethic.
Divide
In math, to find out how many times one number contains another.
Divide 20 by 4 to get 5.
Apart
Except for; aside from.
Apart from the typo, the essay is excellent.
Divide
To create a boundary or distinction between groups.
The river divides the two countries.
Apart
Away from another or others.
They live apart from their families.
Divide
Separate or be separated into parts
The cell clusters began to divide rapidly
Consumer magazines can be divided into a number of categories
Apart
(of two or more people or things) separated by a specified distance in time or space
The two sides remained far apart on the issue of cruise missiles
Two stone gateposts some thirty feet apart
Studies from as far apart as America and Iceland
Divide
Disagree or cause to disagree
Cities where politicians frequently divide along racial lines
The question had divided Frenchmen since the Revolution
Apart
To or on one side; at a distance from the main body
Isabel stepped away from Joanna and stood apart
Divide
Find how many times (a number) contains another
36 divided by 2 equals 18
Apart
So as to be shattered; into pieces
He leapt out of the car just before it was blown apart
Divide
A difference or disagreement between two groups, typically producing tension
There was still a profound cultural divide between the parties
Apart
At a distance in place, position, or time
Railings spaced two feet apart.
Born three years apart.
Divide
To separate into parts, sections, groups, or branches
Divided the students into four groups.
Apart
Away from another or others
Grew apart over the years.
Decided to live apart.
Divide
To form a border or barrier between
A mountain chain divides France and Spain.
Apart
In or into parts or pieces
Split apart.
Divide
To sector into units of measurement; graduate
The ruler was divided into metric units.
Apart
One from another
I can't tell the twins apart.
Divide
To group according to kind; classify or assign
Divided the plants into different species.
Apart
Aside or in reserve, as for a separate use or purpose
Funds set apart for the project.
Divide
To cause to separate into opposing factions; disunite
"They want not to divide either the Revolution or the Church but to be an integral part of both" (Conor Cruise O'Brien).
Apart
As a distinct item or entity
Quality sets it apart.
Divide
To cause (members of a parliament) to vote by separating into groups, as pro and con.
Apart
Set apart; isolated. Used after a noun or in the predicate
A people who have existed over the centuries as a world apart.
Divide
To give out or apportion among a number
Volunteers divided the different jobs among themselves.
Apart
Being excepted or excluded from consideration
All joking apart, I think you're wrong.
Divide
To subject (a number) to the process of division
Divided 20 by 4.
Apart
Placed separately (in regard to space or time).
Divide
To be a divisor of
3 divides 9.
Apart
Separately, exclusively, not together
Consider the two propositions apart.
Divide
To use (a number) as a divisor
Divided 5 into 35.
Apart
Aside; away; not included.
Joking apart, what do you think?
Divide
To become separated into parts
The mixture will divide into several layers if left unagitated.
Apart
In or into two or more parts.
We took the computer apart and put it back together.
Divide
To branch out, as a river or a blood vessel.
Apart
(following its objective complement) Apart from.
A handful of examples apart, an English preposition precedes its complement.
Divide
To form into factions; take sides
The party divided evenly on the tax issue.
Apart
(Used after a noun or in the predicate) Exceptional, distinct.
In a class apart.
Divide
To vote by dividing.
Apart
Having been taken apart; disassembled, in pieces.
Divide
(Mathematics) To perform the operation of division.
Apart
Separate, on the side.
Divide
(Biology) To undergo cell division.
Apart
Separately, in regard to space or company; in a state of separation as to place; aside.
Others apart sat on a hill retired.
The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself.
Divide
A dividing point or line
"would clearly tip the court ... across a dangerous constitutional divide" (Lawrence H. Tribe).
Apart
In a state of separation, of exclusion, or of distinction, as to purpose, use, or character, or as a matter of thought; separately; independently; as, consider the two propositions apart.
Divide
See watershed.
Apart
Aside; away.
Let Pleasure go, put Care apart.
Divide
(transitive) To split or separate (something) into two or more parts.
A wall divides two houses; a stream divides the towns
Apart
In two or more parts; asunder; to piece; as, to take a piece of machinery apart.
Divide
(transitive) To share (something) by dividing it.
How shall we divide this pie?
Apart
Remote and separate physically or socially;
Existed over the centuries as a world apart
Preserved because they inhabited a place apart
Tiny isolated villages remote from centers of civilization
An obscure village
Divide
To calculate the number (the quotient) by which you must multiply one given number (the divisor) to produce a second given number (the dividend).
If you divide 6 by 3, you get 2.
Apart
Not living together as man and wife;
Decided to live apart
Maintaining separate households
They are separated
Divide
To be a divisor of.
3 divides 6.
Apart
Having characteristics not shared by others;
Scientists felt they were a group apart
Divide
(intransitive) To separate into two or more parts.
Apart
Separated or at a distance in place or position or time;
These towns are many miles apart
Stood with his legs apart
Born two years apart
Divide
Of a cell, to reproduce by dividing.
Apart
Not taken into account or excluded from consideration;
These problems apart, the country is doing well
All joking aside, I think you're crazy
Divide
To disunite in opinion or interest; to make discordant or hostile; to set at variance.
Apart
Away from another or others;
They grew apart over the years
Kept apart from the group out of shyness
Decided to live apart
Divide
(obsolete) To break friendship; to fall out.
Apart
Placed or kept separate and distinct as for a purpose;
Had a feeling of being set apart
Quality sets it apart
A day set aside for relaxing
Divide
(obsolete) To have a share; to partake.
Apart
One from the other;
People can't tell the twins apart
Divide
To vote, as in the British parliament and other legislatures, by the members separating themselves into two parties (as on opposite sides of the hall or in opposite lobbies), that is, the ayes dividing from the noes.
Apart
Into parts or pieces;
He took his father's watch apart
Split apart
Torn asunder
Divide
(music) To play or sing in a florid style, or with variations.
Divide
A thing that divides.
Stay on your side of the divide, please.
Divide
An act of dividing.
The divide left most of the good land on my share of the property.
Divide
A distancing between two people or things.
There is a great divide between us.
Divide
(geography) A large chasm, gorge, or ravine between two areas of land.
If you're heading to the coast, you'll have to cross the divide first.
Divide
(hydrology) The topographical boundary dividing two adjacent catchment basins, such as a ridge or a crest.
Divide
To part asunder (a whole); to sever into two or more parts or pieces; to sunder; to separate into parts.
Divide the living child in two.
Divide
To cause to be separate; to keep apart by a partition, or by an imaginary line or limit; as, a wall divides two houses; a stream divides the towns.
Let it divide the waters from the waters.
Divide
To make partition of among a number; to apportion, as profits of stock among proprietors; to give in shares; to distribute; to mete out; to share.
True justice unto people to divide.
Ye shall divide the land by lot.
Divide
To disunite in opinion or interest; to make discordant or hostile; to set at variance.
If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom can not stand.
Every family became now divided within itself.
Divide
To separate into two parts, in order to ascertain the votes for and against a measure; as, to divide a legislative house upon a question.
Divide
To subject to arithmetical division.
Divide
To separate into species; - said of a genus or generic term.
Divide
To play or sing in a florid style, or with variations.
Divide
To be separated; to part; to open; to go asunder.
The Indo-Germanic family divides into three groups.
Divide
To cause separation; to disunite.
A gulf, a strait, the sea intervening between islands, divide less than the matted forest.
Divide
To break friendship; to fall out.
Divide
To have a share; to partake.
Divide
To vote, as in the British Parliament, by the members separating themselves into two parties (as on opposite sides of the hall or in opposite lobbies), that is, the ayes dividing from the noes.
The emperors sat, voted, and divided with their equals.
Divide
A dividing ridge of land between the tributaries of two streams; also called watershed and water parting. A divide on either side of which the waters drain into two different oceans is called a continental divide.
Divide
A serious disagreement between two groups of people (typically producing tension or hostility)
Divide
A ridge of land that separates two adjacent river systems
Divide
Separate into parts or portions;
Divide the cake into three equal parts
The British carved up the Ottoman Empire after World War I
Divide
Perform a division;
Can you divide 49 by seven?
Divide
Act as a barrier between; stand between;
The mountain range divides the two countries
Divide
Come apart;
The two pieces that we had glued separated
Divide
Make a division or separation
Divide
Force, take, or pull apart;
He separated the fighting children
Moses parted the Red Sea
Common Curiosities
What is Divide?
"Divide" is a verb that refers to separating something into parts.
Is Divide an action?
Yes, "divide" represents an action of breaking something into segments.
Can Divide be used in mathematics?
Yes, "divide" is a fundamental mathematical operation.
What is Apart?
"Apart" is an adverb that describes the state of being separated or at a distance.
Does Apart have a mathematical use?
Generally no, it's used to describe spatial or emotional distance.
Is Divide a verb?
Yes, "divide" is a verb.
Can Divide be used metaphorically?
Yes, such as "divide and conquer" or "a divided nation."
Does Divide imply a process?
Yes, it implies the process of separating or distributing.
Can Divide be used in cooking?
Yes, like "divide the dough into balls."
Is Apart a state or condition?
Yes, "apart" describes a state or condition of being separated.
Is Apart an adverb?
Yes, "apart" is an adverb.
Is Apart used in expressions?
Yes, like "fall apart" or "miles apart."
Is Apart used to compare?
It can be, as in "what sets them apart."
Does Apart indicate finality?
It can, as it often describes the result or state after separation.
Can Divide and Apart be used in the same sentence?
Yes, for example, "Divide the dough apart into six equal pieces."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
