What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cleave
Example
The chef used a cleaver to cleave the meat into smaller pieces. [cleave: verb]
Example
The earthquake caused the ground to cleave open, creating a deep fissure. [cleave: verb]
split
Example
He split the log in half with an axe. [split: verb]
Example
The political party split into two factions over the controversial issue. [split: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Split is more commonly used than cleave in everyday language. Split is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while cleave is less common and may be used in more specific or formal situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cleave and split?
While cleave may sound more formal or poetic, split is more commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
