Cool MateDistribute vs Share
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Distribute
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Share
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most common: Share
| Distribute | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈstrɪbjuːt//ˈdɪstrɪbjuːt/","/dɪˈstrɪbjuːts//ˈdɪstrɪbjuːts/","/dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪd//ˈdɪstrɪbjuːtɪd/","/dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪŋ//ˈdɪstrɪbjuːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/","/dɪˈstrɪbjuːts/","/dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪd/","/dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ʃeə(r)/","/ʃeəz/","/ʃeəd/","/ˈʃeərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃer/","/ʃerz/","/ʃerd/","/ˈʃerɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To give things out to many people. | To let someone use or have part of something that you have. |
| Example | The teacher decided to distribute the books to the students. | I will share my toys with my friends. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | equally, fairly, unequally, among, between, to, internationally, nationally, exclusively, evenly, uniformly, unevenly, across, among, between | fully, equally, broadly, want to, would like to, be prepared to, among, between, in, widely shared, fully, equally, broadly, want to, would like to, be prepared to, among, between, in, widely shared, fully, equally, broadly, want to, would like to, be prepared to, among, between, in, widely shared |
| Antonyms | collect, withhold | hoard, keep, withhold |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'distribute' vs 'contribute'., Using 'distribute' without an object., Saying 'distribute to everyone' instead of 'distribute to them'. | Using 'share' without an object (e.g., saying 'I will share' instead of 'I will share my lunch'), Confusing 'share' with 'sharpen', Incorrectly using 'share' as a noun rather than a verb (e.g., saying 'the share of the book' instead of 'the sharing of the book') |
| Usage notes | Use 'distribute' when you're giving out items, like food or information. It's appropriate in both written and spoken contexts. Avoid it in very casual conversations where simpler words like 'give out' can be used. | Use 'share' when talking about dividing resources or experiences. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid in very formal contexts where more specific terms may be required. |
Frequently asked questions: Distribute vs Share
What's the difference between Distribute and Share?
Distribute: To give things out to many people. Share: To let someone use or have part of something that you have.
Which is more common: Distribute and Share?
Share is the most common in everyday English.
Are Distribute and Share the same CEFR level?
Distribute: B2, Share: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Distribute and Share interchangeably?
Not always. Distribute and Share are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.