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Split up meaning

Split up means to end a romantic relationship or marriage. It can also mean to divide a group or a thing into smaller parts.

Check yourself: 3 questions

split up

split up · split · splitting

B1No object+1 more meaning

My parents split up when I was six.

Split up meanings and examples

2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.

  1. 1end a romantic relationship or marriage
  2. 2divide a group or a thing into smaller parts
  1. 1

    End a romantic relationship or marriage

    split up

    B1No object

    • My parents split up when I was six.
    • Did you hear? Tom and Lena have split up.
    • I split up with my boyfriend last summer.
  2. 2

    Divide a group or a thing into smaller parts

    split somebody or something up

    B2Separable

    • The teacher split us up into groups of four.
    • Let’s split up and look for the dog in different streets.
    • We split the bill up between six of us.
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Is split up separable?

When split up means end a relationship, it has no object. Use with for the other person: She split up with Mark. When it means divide, it is separable: split up the class, split the class up, split them up.

The noun is a split or a split-up, but break-up is more common: after their break-up. Split up can also be used for bands: The band split up in 2010.

Verb tenses for split up

PresentI split up · she splits up
Pastsplit up
Present perfecthave split up
-ing formsplitting up

Common mistakes with split up

What learners often say, and what to say instead.

  • Wrong: She split up from her husband last year.

    Right: She split up with her husband last year.

    The usual preposition is with. From is also used, mostly in UK news.

  • Wrong: They are split up since 2020.

    Right: They have been split up since 2020.

    With since, use the present perfect.

  • Wrong: The coach split up us into two teams.

    Right: The coach split us up into two teams.

    A pronoun goes between split and up.

Synonyms and opposites of split up

Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.

Similar

Opposite

  • get togetherstart a romantic relationship
  • get back togetherstart a relationship again after splitting up

Split up quiz

Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.

  1. 1They were together for five years, but they ___ last month.

  2. 2Choose the right sentence.

  3. 3On a hike, the guide says, “Let’s split up and meet at the lake.” What will the group do?

Find your level

The phrasal verbs test adapts as you answer, from A2 to C1, and shows which ones you miss.

Test yourself on split upTake the full test

Split up FAQ

Questions people ask about split up.

Split up vs break up: what is the difference?

For couples they mean the same. Break up is more common. Split up is also used a lot for married couples and bands.

Is it split up with or split up from?

Split up with is the most common. Split up from is also used, more in UK English and news.

What is the past tense of split up?

Split up. The verb does not change: split, split, split. They split up in May.

Use split up in real conversations

In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.

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