divest Definition
- 1to sell off business interests or investments
- 2to deprive someone of power, rights, or possessions
- 3to rid oneself of something that is no longer wanted or needed
Using divest: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "divest" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The company decided to divest its non-core businesses.
Example
He divested himself of all his shares in the company.
Example
The government was forced to divest the dictator of his power.
Example
She divested herself of her coat and hat as soon as she entered the house.
divest Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with divest
to sell off or withdraw investments from companies involved in the production or use of fossil fuels
Example
Many universities and pension funds have divested from fossil fuels in recent years.
the sale or disposal of a company's assets or business units
Example
The divestiture of assets was necessary to raise funds for the company's restructuring.
to relinquish or give up responsibility for something
Example
He tried to divest himself of responsibility for the project's failure.
Origins of divest
from Old French 'devester', meaning 'strip of possessions'
Summary: divest in Brief
The verb 'divest' [dɪˈvɛst] means to sell off business interests or investments, deprive someone of power, rights, or possessions, or rid oneself of something that is no longer wanted or needed. Examples include 'The company decided to divest its non-core businesses.' and 'She divested herself of her coat and hat as soon as she entered the house.' 'Divest' extends into phrases like 'divest from fossil fuels,' and 'divestiture of assets,' and can be formal ('dispose of') or informal ('get rid of').
