deal

1 of 4

verb

dealt ˈdelt How to pronounce deal (audio) ; dealing ˈdē-liŋ How to pronounce deal (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to concern oneself or itself
The book deals with education.
a lawyer who deals with real estate law
2
a
: to take action with regard to someone or something
deal with an offender
Who's going to deal with this mess?
b
: to reach or try to reach a state of acceptance or reconcilement
trying to deal with her son's death
3
card games : to distribute the cards to players
your turn to deal
4
business
a
: to sell or distribute something as a business
deal in insurance
b
: to engage in bargaining : trade

transitive verb

1
a
card games : to distribute (playing cards) to players
Deal the cards.
b
: to give as one's portion : apportion
dealt out three sandwiches apiece
a judge dealing out punishments
2
: administer, deliver
dealt him a blow
3
business
a
: sell
deals drugs
b
: trade
deal a player to another team
dealer noun

deal

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
business
a
: an act of dealing (see deal entry 1 sense 4) : transaction
big corporate deals
a real estate deal
b
: contract sense 1a
signed a 2-year deal
c
: bargain
got a great deal on a new TV
accepted a plea deal
2
: an arrangement for mutual advantage
kept his side of the deal
3
: treatment received
a dirty deal
4
: situation, story
What is the deal with that guy?
tried to figure out her deal
5
: mccoy
used in the phrase the real deal
6
: affair sense 2
Dinner was an informal deal.
7

deal

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
: a usually large or indefinite quantity or degree
a great deal of support
a good deal faster
2
card games
a
: the act or right of distributing cards to players
It's your deal.
b
: hand sense 7b
have time for one more deal
3
obsolete : part, portion

deal

4 of 4

noun (3)

1
British : a board of fir or pine
2
: pine or fir wood
deal adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for deal

distribute, dispense, divide, deal, dole out mean to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group.

distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts.

distributed food to the needy

dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need.

dispensed wisdom to the students

divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal.

three charitable groups divided the proceeds

deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece.

deal out equipment and supplies

dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply.

doled out what little food there was

Examples of deal in a Sentence

Noun (1) we made a deal to cooperate on the next assignment we closed the deal for the house last week if the other party backs out of the deal after it's signed, you can sue we don't yet know what the deal is with the new manager that mail-order sweater isn't such a great deal after you factor in the cost of shipping and handling It's your turn to deal. Each player is dealt five cards. She was dealt a full house. dealing out the cards for a game of poker The offending players were dealt harsh penalties. She got caught dealing drugs in school. Noun (2) there is a great deal of waste in government
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
He was then dealt to the Penguins in August of last year. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024 The onslaught of bad cards Shannon’s been dealt is another piece of the successful narrative puzzle. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
In today’s deal, North’s leap to four hearts is preemptive, and West doubles that outrage with his 23 high-card points. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024 Who pays for a replacement roof often comes down to who has more bargaining power, and the inability to obtain insurance coverage has the potential to kill deals, agents report. Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deal 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2), Verb, and Noun (1)

Middle English deel, from Old English dǣl; akin to Old English dāl division, portion, Old High German teil part

Noun (3)

Middle English dele, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German, plank; akin to Old High German dili plank — more at thill

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deal was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near deal

Cite this Entry

“Deal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deal. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

deal

1 of 3 noun
1
: a large or indefinite amount or extent
means a great deal
2
a
: the act or right of passing out cards to players in a card game

deal

2 of 3 verb
dealt ˈdelt How to pronounce deal (audio) ; dealing ˈdē-liŋ How to pronounce deal (audio)
1
: to give as one's portion : distribute
deal out sandwiches
deal the cards
2
: give entry 1 sense 9a
dealt him a blow
3
: to have to do : treat
the book deals with education
4
: to take action
deal with offenders
5
a
: to engage in bargaining : trade
b
: to sell or distribute something as a business
deals in insurance
dealer noun

deal

3 of 3 noun
1
a
: an act of dealing : transaction
b
: the result of bargaining : a mutual agreement
make a deal for a used car
2
: treatment received
a dirty deal
3
: an arrangement for the advantage of all involved

Legal Definition

deal

1 of 2 verb
dealt; dealing

transitive verb

: to carry on the business of buying or especially selling (something)
dealing drugs

intransitive verb

1
: to engage in bargaining
2
: to sell or distribute something as a business or for money
dealing in real estate
deal in stolen property

deal

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act of dealing : a business transaction
2
: an arrangement for mutual advantage (as for a defendant to testify in exchange for immunity from prosecution)

More from Merriam-Webster on deal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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