split-up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “split-up” mean?
The act of ending a relationship or partnership, or the state of being separated.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of ending a relationship or partnership, or the state of being separated.
Can refer to the division of assets in a divorce, the breakup of a group, or any separation into distinct parts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, often hyphenated as 'split-up' when used as a noun; in American English, it may be written as 'split up' without hyphen. Usage is similar overall.
Connotations
Associated with personal or relational separations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English in casual speech.
Grammar
How to Use “split-up” in a Sentence
split up with [someone]split up [something] into [parts]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “split-up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to split up after a decade together.
- The committee split up into smaller working groups.
American English
- They split up following a disagreement.
- The firm split up its operations last year.
adjective
British English
- They are now a split-up couple living separately.
- The split-up assets were distributed fairly.
American English
- She manages a split-up family with children from both sides.
- The split-up agreement was finalized in court.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the division of a company or assets during a separation.
Academic
Used in social sciences to discuss relationship dissolution or group dynamics.
Everyday
Common in conversations about the end of personal relationships.
Technical
In legal contexts, denotes the formal separation in divorce proceedings.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “split-up”
- Using 'split-up' as a transitive verb without 'with', e.g., 'He split-up her' instead of 'He split up with her'.
- Misspelling as 'splitup' without hyphen in noun form.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally informal and used in casual contexts, though it can appear in semi-formal writing.
Yes, 'split-up' functions as a phrasal verb (e.g., 'They split up') and as a hyphenated noun (e.g., 'Their split-up was difficult').
They are often synonymous, but 'split-up' can imply a more amicable or mutual separation, while 'break-up' may emphasize emotional turmoil.
In American English, it is pronounced /ˈsplɪt ʌp/, with stress on the first syllable and a schwa in the second.
The act of ending a relationship or partnership, or the state of being separated.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “split up the bill”
- “after the split-up”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a banana split: when it's split up, it's separated into parts, similar to how relationships can break apart.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELATIONSHIPS ARE JOURNEYS THAT CAN SPLIT APART.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common connotation of 'split-up'?