split infinitive

splɪt ɪnˈfɪnɪtɪv

Definition

Definition of split infinitive - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

linguistics

TECH.

infinitive with a word between 'to' and the verb

TECH.

The teacher explained the split infinitive in the English grammar lesson.
To boldly go is a famous split infinitive.
She tends to always use split infinitives.

Add a suggestion |

Feedback:

Expressions with split

split up

stop being together as a group

The band decided to split up after the tour.

split off

separate from a larger group or structure

The small faction decided to split off from the main party.

split hairs

argue about trivial details unnecessarily

He tends to split hairs during every discussion.

split ticket

ballot with candidates from multiple parties

She cast a split ticket in the election.

split the bill

share the payment of a bill among multiple people

They decided to split the bill after dinner.

for a split second

adv.

for a very short moment or instant

I thought I saw her for a split second.

Expressions with infinitive

infinitive marker

word, affix or symbol used to indicate a verb’s infinitive

In English, “to” is the infinitive marker in “to run”.

View all translations of split infinitive

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.

French:infinitif scindé, ...
German:getrennter Infinitiv, ...
Italian:infinito spezzato, ...
Spanish:infinitivo partido, ...
Portuguese:infinitivo dividido, ...
Chinese:分裂不定式, ...
Japanese:分割不定詞, ...
Arabic:مصدر منشطر, ...
Hebrew:אִינְפִּינִיטִיב מְפוּצָל, ...
Russian:разделённый инфинитив, ...
Ukrainian:розділений інфінітив, ...
Hindi:स्प्लिट इन्फिनिटिव, ...
Bengali:বিভক্ত ইনফিনিটিভ, ...
Catalan:infinitiu partit, ...
Czech:rozštěpený infinitiv, ...
Danish:delt infinitiv, ...
Dutch:gespleten infinitief, ...
Greek:διαχωρισμένο απαρέμφατο, ...
Hungarian:szétválasztott infinitívusz, ...
Khmer:កិរិយាសព្ទអនន្តដែលបំបែក, ...
Korean:분리 부정사, ...
Persian:مصدر جداشده, ...
Polish:rozdzielny bezokolicznik, ...
Portuguese (BR):infinitivo dividido, ...
Romanian:infinitiv divizat, ...
Swedish:delad infinitiv, ...
Thai:อินฟินิทิฟแยกส่วน, ...
Turkish:bölünmüş mastar, ...
Vietnamese:động từ nguyên thể bị ngắt quãng, ...

Browse the dictionary entries starting with “s”:

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

100,000 expressions & idioms Understand any expression you come across: from corporate jargon like 💬 touch base or ↩️ circle back to everyday expressions such as 🌊 out of the blue or 🦆 lame duck, as well as idioms like 🍲 spill the beans and 🐎 hold your horses.

40,000 images When you search for a concrete noun or object, images help you grasp the meaning at a glance. Try searching for 🧵 puppytooth, 🎠 merry-go-round, ⚜️ fleur-de-lys, or 💤 bunk bed.

Informal language & slang Everyday conversations are packed with informal expressions and slang. Meanings are clearly tagged, so you'll always know when a word is casual. Look up hangry (😋 hungry + 😡 angry), 😎 rizz, 🕹️ noob, or 🔑 low-key.

Abbreviations & acronyms Quickly decode modern abbreviations and acronyms. Go from IDK to OMG in seconds and stay up to date with popular abbreviations such as 🐐 GOAT, 📜 tl;dr, 👀 POV, or 🖥️ AFK.

Regional usage (US / UK) Reverso highlights regional differences between American and British English. You’ll never have to wonder where a word is commonly used: try lift vs. elevator, courgette vs. zucchini, or popular British slang like dodgy or banter. What’s more, when you search for 'color', you’ll immediately see its British counterpart, 'colour'.

Get more than a simple definition

Translations for each meaning View translations alongside each meaning to see how a word is translated in each context. Simply toggle translations ON and choose among 25+ languages. You can also display the translation of definitions or examples into your native language to deepen your understanding.

Synonyms & related words by meaning View synonyms and related words for each meaning, not just for the word as a whole. This helps you choose the most accurate word for your context. Click the

icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.

Multiple examples for every meaning Each meaning comes with three real-life examples to show you how the word is used in different contexts. Click the

icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.

Go from understanding to mastery

Save words for later review Click the

icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the

icon next to it. For example, you might want to save the word “table” as a verb, which means “to postpone”.

Practice with personalized flashcards Reverso automatically transforms your searches and saved words into personalized flashcards and quizzes, featuring high-quality audio and usage examples. This helps you transform terms you only recognize into words you actually use confidently.

Learn with Netflix, YouTube, and your favorite texts With Reverso Chrome extension, transform movies, TV shows, articles, or song lyrics into an interactive lesson. Look up words and expressions in one click on any website and learn with your favorite content.