What does share mean?
Share is a versatile word expressing both joint possession and division. As a verb, it can mean giving someone access to something, distributing a quantity, communicating information, or using a resource together. In noun uses, a share is a portion of something, a unit of ownership in a company, or simply participation in an undertaking. The word is common in both everyday and business contexts: people share food, experiences, responsibilities, and information, while investors discuss shares, market share, and ownership stakes. Its basic idea is that something is not held or enjoyed by one person alone. This makes it useful for describing cooperation and participation, while also providing a concise way to refer to the proportional part that one person receives or owns. The financial sense is especially established in British and American English.
To have, use, divide, distribute, or communicate something jointly with others.
"The team shared the workload evenly."
Common with food, resources, information, experiences, and responsibilities. 'Share with' is especially frequent when the recipient is implied or named.
An equal or allotted portion of something; a unit of ownership in a company; or participation in an activity or undertaking.
"She bought a share in the business and became a co-owner."
In finance, the singular can refer to one unit of stock, as in 'a share in the company,' while 'shares' commonly refers to ownership collectively.
Use 'shares' for multiple portions, units of ownership, or participations; in financial contexts, it commonly refers to ownership in a company or to the company's stock.
"The investors bought shares in the company."
In finance, a share began as a portion of a whole business; it still carries the idea of having a piece of the outcome.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does share come from?
The modern word developed from Old English forms associated with 'scearu,' meaning a portion or division. Its noun and verb senses grew from the idea of dividing something into portions and allowing or assigning those portions to different people. The word was also shaped by related developments in other Germanic languages, including forms corresponding to Dutch 'schare' and Old High German 'scara.' The financial sense developed from the earlier meaning of a share or portion of property.
Related word forms
How share is actually used
As a verb, 'share with' is especially common when indicating joint use, transfer, or communication. The noun can refer to a financial stake, a portion of a quantity, or participation; in financial contexts, 'share' is often used in the singular for a single unit of ownership, as in 'a share of stock.'
Easily confused with share
A share is a portion or joint participation, while a shore is the land along the edge of a body of water.
To share is to divide or use something jointly, whereas to shear is to cut something such as wool or hair.