Meaning & Definition of word "Divest"
Divest
/daɪˈvɛst/
verb:
- 1. To take away or deprive someone or something of (something); to rid oneself of.
- Example: The company decided to divest its non-core assets in order to focus on its primary business.
- 2. To sell off holdings, especially in investments or properties.
- Example: Investors were urged to divest from companies that do not meet environmental standards.
- 3. To strip or remove a title or position.
- Example: The court ruled that he would be divested of his title due to misconduct.
- 4. To remove or rid oneself of something (often used in context with investments).
- Example: In response to the market downturn, she decided to divest her shares in the tech company.
Etymology
●From Middle English 'divesten', from Old French 'divestir', from Latin 'divestire', meaning 'to undress'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
divest oneself of:
To rid oneself of something unwanted or burdensome.
divest in favor of:
To sell or remove interests in favor of something else.
Related Words
invest:
To put money into something in order to gain a profit.
asset:
A resource owned by a business or individual that has economic value.
Slang Meanings of divest
Meaning: To ditch or drop something.
● Example Sentence: I'm planning to divest my old car for something newer.
Meaning: To bail out of an investment.
● Example Sentence: He's thinking about divesting from that sketchy startup.