divest
/daɪˈvest/ (bre, ipa) · /daɪˈvest/ (ame, ipa) · /dī-ˈvest də-/ (ame, mw)
divest — verb
- divestpresent simple I / you / we / they
- divestshe / she / it
- divestedpast simple
- divesting-ing form
1. to sell an asset, investment, or part of a business, usually for strategic reaso
to sell an asset, investment, or part of a business, usually for strategic reasons or on moral grounds
After public pressure, the pension fund divested all its holdings in tobacco companies.
divest + holdings + in [company]
The energy giant was forced to divest its coal-mining division by the competition regulator.
passive: be forced to divest + division
A growing number of universities are choosing to divest from fossil fuel industries.
Lin's family investment firm divested their stake in the fast-food chain last spring.
The committee voted to divest the company of its non-core retail brands.
- sell off
less formal; used in everyday business language rather than formal investment discourse
- dispose of
more general; can mean selling, giving away, or throwing away
- unload
informal; suggests selling something undesirable or unwanted quickly
文法句型
divest + [object]
divest + [object] + from + [industry/company]
be divested + of + [asset]
divest + from + [investment]
用法筆記
Frequently used in business and finance contexts, especially when an organisation sells off assets for ethical, regulatory, or strategic reasons. The structure divest from [industry/sector] is particularly common in discussions of ethical investment.
常見錯誤
⚠️ 'The company divested the shares cheaply.' ✅ 'The company divested the shares at a favourable price.' — The direct-object pattern (divest + asset) is standard in finance; the problem here is pairing an informal adverb (cheaply) with a formal financial verb. Use a neutral or formal adverb instead.
2. to officially remove someone's property, rights, or position of authority, often
to officially remove someone's property, rights, or position of authority, often through a legal or political process
The corrupt governor was divested of all political authority after the investigation.
passive: be divested of + authority
Under the new constitution, the monarchy was divested of its power to veto legislation.
passive: be divested of + power
No citizen may be divested of the right to a fair trial under any circumstances.
The court order divested the fraudulent company of all properties acquired through illegal means.
Workers who protested were divested of their pensions by the authoritarian regime.
- deprive
more common and less formal; used in everyday and legal contexts
- strip
more forceful; suggests taking away everything
- dispossess
formal; specifically about taking away property or land
文法句型
divest + [someone] + of + [right/power/property]
be divested + of + [right/power/property]
用法筆記
Almost always used with the preposition of to indicate what is taken away. The subject is typically a court, government, or other authority; the object is a person or institution. The passive voice is very common (be divested of).
常見錯誤
3. to take off a piece of clothing, used in formal or literary writing rather than
to take off a piece of clothing, used in formal or literary writing rather than in everyday speech
The knight divested himself of his heavy armour before entering the hall.
reflexive: divest himself of + [clothing]
Wei divested herself of her raincoat and hung it by the fireplace.
The patient was divested of his hospital gown so the doctor could examine the wound.
Fatima divested herself of her silk scarf and laid it carefully across the chair.
- don
formal or literary; to put on clothing
文法句型
divest + [someone] + of + [clothing]
divest + oneself + of + [clothing]
用法筆記
This sense is almost exclusively found in formal, literary, or historical narratives. In everyday English, people say take off or remove. The reflexive structure (divest oneself of) is the most typical pattern.