WordGarden.iodivvy
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /dˈɪvi/
US
- /ˈdɪvi/
Meanings
Verb
to divide or share something out
Noun
a share or portion, especially of money
a chiefly British derogatory term for a foolish or stupid person
Adjective
used chiefly in British English as a derogatory adjective meaning foolish or stupid
Beyond the definition
Imagine a group of friends ordering a pizza. To "divvy" it up means to share the slices fairly among everyone—each person gets their fair share. It's about dividing something, often equally, but not always. The word suggests a casual, informal way of sharing. You might divvy up chores around the house or divvy up winnings from a board game.
The origin of "divvy" is pretty simple: it showed up in the late 1800s as slang, likely from the word "dividend" (and possibly influenced by "divide" or "division"). It keeps that sense of taking a whole and breaking it into smaller parts for a group. So, next time you're splitting a snack or a tab, you're using a friendly, informal way to talk about sharing.
To divvy something means to divide it up and distribute it among a group of people. It implies an informal or practical allocation, often with the goal of fairness, though not necessarily strict equality. For example: "Let's divvy up the tasks so everyone has a manageable workload," or "The kids quickly divvied up the Halloween candy."
"Divvy" isn't typically used for large-scale, official distributions—you could say a government "divvied out" funds, but it would sound informal. It's much more common in everyday situations involving smaller groups and tangible items or responsibilities.
The word carries a sense of quickness and practicality. It is not about meticulous, bureaucratic calculation; it is about getting things shared efficiently. You might "divvy up" the leftovers after dinner or "divvy" the responsibility for cleaning up after a party.
Interestingly, while often implying equal shares, "divvy" doesn't require them. You could say, "We divvied up the work based on everyone's skills," meaning some people took on more challenging tasks than others. The key is the act of distribution within a group. Whether it is candy, chores, or responsibilities, to divvy is to share and distribute in a casual, practical way—ensuring everyone gets their piece (or task!).
Less commonly, "divvy" can be a noun meaning someone's share, especially money: "After the deal, everyone got their divvy."
Examples
- 1
Food sharing
Let's divvy up the pizza before it gets cold.
- 2
Shared bill
We usually just divvy the bill up evenly.
- 3
Work shifts
The manager divvied the weekend shifts between the team.
- Patterndivvy something up between people
share it so each person gets a part
- 4
Family money
After the house was sold, the sisters divvied the money among themselves.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Client list
I'll handle the emails if you divvy up the client list.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- divvyverbnoun
Forms
- divviedpast tenseverbnoun
- divvying-ing formverbnoun
- divviesverbnoun