2K

Shares

UK //ʃɛəz//US //ʃɛrz//

Definition

Parts of a company's equity that can be bought or sold.

In simple words: Parts of a company's ownership that people can buy.

Examples

Many investors buy shares in technology companies.
The value of shares can fluctuate significantly in a short time.
She sold her shares to invest in real estate.
He owns shares in multiple corporations around the world.
Investors often track the performance of their shares daily.
The company's shares were trading higher after the positive earnings report.

Usage notes

Use 'shares' in business contexts. It's suitable for formal and informal conversations about finance. Avoid in casual or non-financial discussions.

Grammar pattern

buy/sell + shares

Memory hint

Think of 'share' as sharing a pizza; each piece is a part of the whole.

Collocations

buy shares
sell shares
own shares
trade shares
issue shares

Synonyms

equity
stock
ownership
holding
interest

Common mistakes

Confused with 'stocks'; both refer to ownership but differ slightly in context.
Using 'share' instead of 'shares' when referring to multiple parts of ownership.
Confusing 'shares' with 'dividends'; shares are ownership, dividends are profits distributed.