divisible by

Meaning

1. 1phrasefixed phrasemathematics

   Able to be divided by a number with no remainder left over.

   Grammar: Used after the verb be: 12 is divisible by 3.

   Patterns

   • be divisible by a number
   • evenly divisible by something

   Fifteen is divisible by three and by five.

   Any number ending in zero is divisible by ten.

   Nine is not divisible by two, because one is left over.

Common combinations

divisible by two

If a number is divisible by two, we call it even.

divisible by three

Check whether the total is divisible by three before you split the bill.

evenly divisible by

One hundred is evenly divisible by four.

not divisible by

Seven is not divisible by any number except one and itself.

Synonyms and how they differ

a multiple of

This describes the number itself (12 is a multiple of 3), while divisible by describes how the division works out.

Word family

divide verb

to separate something into parts or groups.

division noun

the process of dividing one number by another.

divisor noun

the number you divide by.

Commonly confused: divisible by or dividable?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “divisible by”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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