divvy

American  

[div-ee] / ˈdɪv i /

verb (used with or without object)

divvied, divvying

1. to divide; distribute (often followed byup ).

   The thieves divvied up the loot.

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noun

plural

divvies

1. a distribution or sharing.

divvy ¹ British  

/ ˈdɪvɪ /

noun

1. short for dividend, esp (formerly) one paid by a cooperative society

2. a share; portion

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verb

1. to divide and share

divvy ² British  

/ ˈdɪvɪ /

noun

1. dialect a stupid or foolish person

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Etymology

Origin of divvy

1870–75; div(ide) or div(idend) + -y ²

Explanation

To divvy something is to split it up between two or more people. You might divvy up a pizza among four friends, giving everyone two slices. If you and a friend have a lemonade stand, you'll divvy up the proceeds at the end of the day, sharing the money. You can also divvy other things: "Let's divvy this painting job — you do the trim, and I'll paint the walls." As a noun, a divvy is a share or a part of something — the word, from American English, is a shortened version of dividend, a divided payment, from the Latin dividendum, "thing to be divided."

Example Sentences

Colleges can divvy up the money among athletes and sports programs however they choose.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Rather than going big on a few risky bets, they instead divvy up money, in some cases, across hundreds of specialized investment teams.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

“The only way around it is for the states to agree how to divvy up the river in an equitable way.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

How they decide to divvy up the pie could be a source of further pain for the new administration.

From BBC • Jul. 24, 2024

We divvy up the tasks and head to our homerooms.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein