divest
/daɪˈvest/ (bre, ipa) · /daɪˈvest/ (ame, ipa) · /dī-ˈvest də-/ (ame, mw)
divest — 動詞
- 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
出售；脫手
為策略或道德原因出售資產
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.
在公眾壓力下，該退休基金出售了其持有的所有菸草公司股票。
divest + holdings + in [company]
The energy giant was forced to divest its coal-mining division by the competition regulator.
這家能源巨頭被競爭監管機構強制出售其煤礦部門。
passive: be forced to divest + division
A growing number of universities are choosing to divest from fossil fuel industries.
越來越多的大學選擇退出對化石燃料產業的投資。
Lin's family investment firm divested their stake in the fast-food chain last spring.
Lin 家族的投資公司去年春天出售了他們在速食連鎖店的持股。
The committee voted to divest the company of its non-core retail brands.
委員會投票決定讓該公司出售其非核心零售品牌。
- 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
剝奪；褫奪
透過法律程序奪取權利或財產
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.
調查之後，這名貪腐的州長被剝奪了所有政治權力。
passive: be divested of + authority
Under the new constitution, the monarchy was divested of its power to veto legislation.
根據新憲法，君主制被剝奪了否決立法的權力。
passive: be divested of + power
No citizen may be divested of the right to a fair trial under any circumstances.
在任何情況下，任何公民都不得被剝奪接受公正審判的權利。
The court order divested the fraudulent company of all properties acquired through illegal means.
法院命令剝奪了這家詐欺公司透過非法手段獲得的所有財產。
Workers who protested were divested of their pensions by the authoritarian regime.
該威權政權剝奪了參與抗議的工人的退休金。
- 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
脫去；卸除
正式／文學用語，指脫掉衣物
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.
騎士在進入大廳前脫下了沉重的盔甲。
reflexive: divest himself of + [clothing]
Wei divested herself of her raincoat and hung it by the fireplace.
Wei 脫下雨衣，掛在壁爐旁。
The patient was divested of his hospital gown so the doctor could examine the wound.
病人被脫去醫院的長袍，好讓醫生檢查傷口。
Fatima divested herself of her silk scarf and laid it carefully across the chair.
Fatima 解下她的絲巾，小心地放在椅子上。
- 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.