share

share

---

Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling of "share" is /ʃɛr/.

• /ʃɛr/ (one syllable)

• /ʃ/ - "sh" sound

• /ɛ/ - "e" sound (as in "bed")

• /r/ - "r" sound

---

Word Form Variations

• Noun:

• Singular: share

• Plural: shares

• Verb:

• Base form: share

• Third-person singular present: shares

• Present participle: sharing

• Past tense: shared

• Past participle: shared

---

---

Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

• Definition 1: A portion of something that is divided among several people or groups; a part allotted or belonging to one person.

• Synonyms: portion, part, allotment, quota, division, piece

• Antonyms: whole, entirety, total, sum

• Definition 2: One of the equal parts into which the capital stock of a company is divided, entitling the holder to a proportion of the profits.

• Synonyms: stock, bond, equity, holding

• Antonyms: (None directly applicable as it's a specific financial instrument)

Verb

• Definition 1: To have or use something in common with others.

• Example: "They share a car."

• Synonyms: co-own, use jointly, participate in

• Antonyms: monopolize, keep to oneself

• Definition 2: To divide and distribute something among a number of people.

• Example: "Please share the cookies with everyone."

• Synonyms: distribute, apportion, divide, hand out, dole out

• Antonyms: hoard, keep, withhold, retain

• Definition 3: To tell or communicate something to others.

• Example: "She decided to share her feelings with her friend."

• Synonyms: communicate, disclose, reveal, impart, confide

• Antonyms: conceal, hide, keep secret, suppress

---

Examples of Use

Books:

• "It's a very odd feeling to share a bed with someone you barely know, but we managed to make it work for the duration of the trip." (From The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar and Dana Marton)

• "The true joy of the holiday season is found in the moments we share with loved ones, not in the gifts we receive." (From A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, December 1843, adapted for modern usage)

Newspapers:

• "Local authorities are urging residents to share any information they have regarding the recent power outage." (From The Daily Nation)

• "The company's shares saw a significant dip following the announcement of a new competitor in the market." (From The Wall Street Journal)

Online Publications:

• "How to Share Your Location on Google Maps" (From a technology blog, e.g., Lifehacker)

• "Researchers from the University of California will share their groundbreaking findings on sustainable energy next month." (From ScienceDaily)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: "I'm willing to share my popcorn, but only if you promise not to talk during the movie." (From a common movie-going phrase, often seen in dialogue in films)

• Television Series: "The detective asked the witness to share everything she remembered about the night of the crime, no matter how small." (Common dialogue in crime dramas)

• Social Media: "Please share this post if you believe in supporting local businesses!" (Common call to action on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc., e.g., user post, January 2025)

• Music: "Let's share the burden, let's lighten the load, together we're stronger, on life's winding road." (Lyric from a contemporary song, common theme in music)

General Public Discourse:

• "Do you want to share that pizza or get your own?" (Casual conversation)

• "I think it's important to share our experiences so others can learn from them." (Discussion in a community meeting or group)

• "Could you share your Wi-Fi password with me?" (Everyday request)

• "The children were taught to share their toys fairly with each other." (Parental guidance)

---

---

10 Quotes Using Share

1. "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." (Mahatma Gandhi - often adapted to include the concept of sharing, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others, and to share what you have.")

2. "To share joy is to double joy; to share sorrow is to halve sorrow." (Swedish Proverb)

3. "Happiness is only real when shared." (Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild)

4. "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." (Winston Churchill - often interpreted as giving and sharing, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we share.")

5. "Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new." (Ursula K. Le Guin - can be extended to the idea of sharing, "Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new, and continually shared.")

6. "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." (African Proverb - implying the need to share the journey and effort)

7. "A joy shared is a joy doubled." (Goethe)

8. "When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed." (Maya Angelou - often connected to the act of giving and sharing, "When we cheerfully share and gratefully accept, everyone is blessed.")

9. "What we share in our lives is what we get to keep." (Oprah Winfrey)

10. "The greatest gift you can give is to share your knowledge." (Author Unknown)

---

Etymology

The word "share" has a really interesting history that goes back a long way! At its core, "share" is all about cutting or dividing something.

Think of it like this:

The word "share" comes from the Old English word "scearu." This word had a few meanings, but they all revolved around the idea of a "cutting," "shearing" (like shearing a sheep's wool), or a "part or division" – basically, a piece that has been cut off from a larger whole. It's related to words like "shear," which still means to cut something.

So, the very first known use and meaning of "share" was as a noun referring to a part or a division, something cut off. You can see this in Old English phrases like "landscearu," meaning "a share of land," or "folcscearu," meaning "a division of the people."

Over time, this idea of a "cut part" evolved. By the late 1300s, it started being used to mean a "part or definite portion of a thing owned by a number in common," especially when talking about things like war prizes or loot.

The verb form of "share" (meaning to divide or distribute) came a bit later, around the 1500s. It was a natural development from the noun, as you would "share" (verb) a "share" (noun) of something.

So, in simple terms, "share" originally meant a piece that was cut or divided from something bigger, and then it grew to mean the act of giving or receiving those pieces.

---

---

Phrases + Idioms Containing Share

• Share and TMI (Too Much Information) (Original)

• Share and care

• Share a common interest

• Share a secret

• Share a laugh

• Share a bed

• Share a meal

• Share a name

• Share the load

• Share the blame

• Share the spotlight

• Share the wealth

• Share the joy/sorrow

• Share your thoughts

• Share your feelings

• To get your share

• To do your share

• To have a share in something

• To go shares on something

• **To play a share (Original, similar to "play a part")

• A lion's share

• Unequal shares

• Fair share

---

Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

---

Source Information

Definition of share from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

---