Sharing vs. Share — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 30, 2024
Sharing involves the act of using or enjoying something jointly with others, whereas share typically refers to a portion or part of a whole that belongs to or is contributed by someone.
Difference Between Sharing and Share
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sharing typically implies an action, where individuals use or enjoy something together. Whereas, share is often used to denote a portion of something that is distributed among several people or entities.
In social contexts, sharing is about generosity and communal participation, allowing multiple users to benefit from the same resource. On the other hand, a share is a specific allotment that may be owned, bought, or sold, particularly in business or financial settings.
Sharing can occur informally, as in sharing a meal or a story. Share, however, often involves formal agreements or arrangements, like shares of stock in a corporation.
Technology has expanded the concept of sharing to include digital and online contexts, such as sharing files or streaming. Share, in contrast, can also represent a unit of measure in financial terms, such as owning shares in a company.
The ethics of sharing encourage equitable access and community bonding, supporting social harmony. In contrast, owning shares is primarily about economic benefit and personal investment.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The act of using something jointly.
A portion allotted to an individual.
Usage Context
Social, often informal.
Financial, business, formal.
Connotation
Generosity, communal use.
Ownership, individual portion.
Example in Sentence
"They were sharing a pizza."
"He bought ten shares of the company."
Primary Focus
Process of distribution and use.
Unit of ownership or entitlement.
Compare with Definitions
Sharing
The act of using something with others.
Sharing a car reduces expenses.
Share
Part of a group contribution.
Everyone must pay their share of the expenses.
Sharing
The joint use of a resource or space.
Sharing an office can foster collaboration.
Share
A portion belonging to a person as part of a whole.
She received a large share of the inheritance.
Sharing
Giving part of what one has to others.
She enjoys sharing her knowledge with students.
Share
A unit of stock in a company.
He owns 50 shares in the tech company.
Sharing
In digital terms, the act of distributing or providing access to digital content.
Sharing photos online is easy with social media.
Share
The result of dividing something.
The profits were divided into equal shares.
Sharing
Allowing someone to use something you own.
He is sharing his books with his classmates.
Share
In digital settings, a part of a resource allocated to a user.
Each user has a share of the server storage.
Sharing
Sharing is the joint use of a resource or space. It is also the process of dividing and distributing.
Share
A part or portion belonging to, distributed to, contributed by, or owed by a person or group
The pirates argued over their shares of the treasure.
Sharing
A part or portion belonging to, distributed to, contributed by, or owed by a person or group
The pirates argued over their shares of the treasure.
Share
An equitable portion
Do one's share of the work.
Sharing
An equitable portion
Do one's share of the work.
Share
One of the equal parts into which the capital stock of a company is divided
Bought 200 shares of the company's stock.
Sharing
One of the equal parts into which the capital stock of a company is divided
Bought 200 shares of the company's stock.
Share
A unit of ownership in a mutual fund or other investment vehicle
Bought two shares in a mutual fund.
Sharing
A unit of ownership in a mutual fund or other investment vehicle
Bought two shares in a mutual fund.
Share
Shares Chiefly British Stocks
European shares jumped two percent. The fund invests half the money in bonds and half in shares.
Sharing
Shares Chiefly British Stocks
European shares jumped two percent. The fund invests half the money in bonds and half in shares.
Share
A plowshare.
Sharing
To accord a share in (something) to another or others
Shared her chocolate bar with a friend.
Share
To accord a share in (something) to another or others
Shared her chocolate bar with a friend.
Sharing
To divide and parcel out in shares; apportion
Shared the estate among his heirs.
Share
To divide and parcel out in shares; apportion
Shared the estate among his heirs.
Sharing
To participate in, use, enjoy, or experience jointly or in turns
Share a responsibility.
Share a room.
Share
To participate in, use, enjoy, or experience jointly or in turns
Share a responsibility.
Share a room.
Sharing
To hold or have jointly with another or others
She shares my view about the election.
Share
To hold or have jointly with another or others
She shares my view about the election.
Sharing
To relate (a secret or experience, for example) to another or others.
Share
To relate (a secret or experience, for example) to another or others.
Sharing
(Computers) To make (a digital file) accessible to other users on a network, as for copying and downloading.
Share
(Computers) To make (a digital file) accessible to other users on a network, as for copying and downloading.
Sharing
To have a share or part
Shared in the profits.
Share
To have a share or part
Shared in the profits.
Sharing
To allow someone to use or enjoy something that one possesses
Being in daycare taught the child to share.
Share
To allow someone to use or enjoy something that one possesses
Being in daycare taught the child to share.
Sharing
To use or enjoy something jointly or in turns
There is only one computer, so we will have to share.
Share
To use or enjoy something jointly or in turns
There is only one computer, so we will have to share.
Sharing
To talk about personal experiences or feelings with others.
Share
To talk about personal experiences or feelings with others.
Sharing
Something shared; a point in common.
Share
A portion of something, especially a portion given or allotted to someone.
Each of the robbers took a share of the loot.
The TV programme was cancelled because it only gained a 10% share of that night's viewing audience.
Sharing
Present participle of share
Share
(finance) A financial instrument that shows that one owns a part of a company that provides the benefit of limited liability.
Sharing
Having in common;
The sharing of electrons creates molecules
Share
(computing) A configuration enabling a resource to be shared over a network.
Upload media from the browser or directly to the file share.
Sharing
Using or enjoying something jointly with others
Share
(social media) The action of sharing something with other people via social media.
Sharing
Sharing thoughts and feelings
Share
(anatomy) The sharebone or pubis.
Sharing
A distribution in shares
Share
(agriculture) The cutting blade of an agricultural machine like a plough, a cultivator or a seeding-machine.
Sharing
Sharing equally with another or others
Share
To give part of what one has to somebody else to use or consume.
Sharing
Unselfishly willing to share with others;
A warm and sharing friend
Share
To have or use in common.
To share a shelter with another
They share a language.
Share
To divide and distribute.
Share
To tell to another.
He shared his story with the press.
Share
To allow public or private sharing of computer data or space in a network
Share
To cut; to shear; to cleave; to divide.
Share
The part (usually an iron or steel plate) of a plow which cuts the ground at the bottom of a furrow; a plowshare.
Share
The part which opens the ground for the reception of the seed, in a machine for sowing seed.
Share
A certain quantity; a portion; a part; a division; as, a small share of prudence.
Share
Especially, the part allotted or belonging to one, of any property or interest owned by a number; a portion among others; an apportioned lot; an allotment; a dividend.
Share
Hence, one of a certain number of equal portions into which any property or invested capital is divided; as, a ship owned in ten shares.
Share
The pubes; the sharebone.
Share
To part among two or more; to distribute in portions; to divide.
Suppose I share my fortune equally between my children and a stranger.
Share
To partake of, use, or experience, with others; to have a portion of; to take and possess in common; as, to share a shelter with another.
While avarice and rapine share the land.
Share
To cut; to shear; to cleave; to divide.
The shared visage hangs on equal sides.
Share
To have part; to receive a portion; to partake, enjoy, or suffer with others.
A right of inheritance gave every one a title to share in the goods of his father.
Share
Any of the equal portions into which the capital stock of a corporation is divided and ownership of which is evidenced by a stock certificate;
He bought 100 shares of IBM at the market price
Share
Assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group;
He wanted his share in cash
Share
The result of parcelling out or sharing;
Death gets more than its share of attention from theologicans
Share
Any one of a number of individual efforts in a common endeavor;
I am proud of my contribution to the team's success
They all did their share of the work
Share
A sharp steel wedge that cuts loose the top layer of soil
Share
Have in common;
Our children share a love of music
The two countries share a long border
Share
Use jointly or in common
Share
Have, give, or receive a share of;
We shared the cake
Share
Give out as one's portion or share
Share
Communicate;
I'd like to share this idea with you
Common Curiosities
Does "sharing" have legal implications?
In some contexts, sharing can have legal implications, especially when it involves intellectual property, shared assets, or digital content.
Can "share" refer to responsibilities and not just benefits?
Yes, "share" can also refer to responsibilities, as in sharing the workload or sharing duties, indicating a distribution of obligations.
How is "share" quantified in business settings?
In business, a share is quantified as a unit that represents ownership in a company, often expressed as stock.
Are there financial instruments other than stocks that are referred to as "shares"?
Yes, other financial instruments like mutual funds and certain types of bonds are sometimes collectively referred to as shares.
Can sharing be enforced by law?
Yes, in some scenarios like copyright sharing agreements or mandated community resources, sharing can be enforced by law.
What are common contexts where "sharing" is used?
Sharing is commonly used in social, familial, educational, and digital media contexts, emphasizing cooperative use and engagement.
Is there a cultural significance to sharing?
Yes, many cultures emphasize the value of sharing as a means of strengthening community bonds and fostering mutual support.
How does technology facilitate sharing?
Technology facilitates sharing through platforms and tools that enable file sharing, collaborative work, and social networking, often in real-time and globally.
What legal documentation is involved in sharing property?
Legal documentation for sharing property can include leases, deeds, agreements of co-ownership, and other contractual documents.
What are the emotional effects of sharing?
Sharing can lead to increased trust, strengthened relationships, and a sense of fulfillment from helping others.
What is the difference between sharing information and sharing physical goods?
Sharing information generally involves communication and does not diminish the sharer’s possession, whereas sharing physical goods may require giving up partial or full access to a tangible item.
How does one acquire shares in a company?
Shares in a company are typically acquired through purchases via a stock exchange, private transactions, or as part of compensation in employment.
What role does sharing play in open-source communities?
In open-source communities, sharing is fundamental, as it involves freely distributing and collaborating on software source code.
How is "share" used in digital and computing contexts?
In computing, "share" can refer to the allocation of resources, such as network shares, or the distribution of data across systems.
Is it possible to share something without owning it?
Yes, it's possible to share access to something, like a rented home or a subscription service, even if one does not own the resource outright.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
