dole out

verb

doled out; doling out; doles out

transitive verb

1

: to give or deliver in small portions

2

: dish out

Synonyms

• administer
• allocate
• apportion
• deal (out)
• dispense
• distribute
• hand out
• mete (out)
• parcel (out)
• portion
• prorate

Choose the Right Synonym for dole out

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 dole out in a Sentence

she doles out office supplies as if she were paying for them out of her own pocket

Recent Examples on the Web

But Mufasa's welcome is no kinder than the reception Dickens doled out to the foundlings scattered throughout his novels. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024

Afterwards on Christmas morning, in these vignettes, slaves commonly wished owners a merry Christmas and long life as they were doled out eggnog treats on the mansion verandah. —Robert E. May / Made By History, TIME, 19 Dec. 2024

In pagan and other pre-Christian traditions, legends arose of mythical beings who emerged during the long nights around the solstice to dole out more extreme punishments to those who weren't on their best behavior. —Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024

But behind this surface efficiency is horror — tethering hundreds of thousands of people to dialysis, doling out $10,000 for unregulated procedures that leave thousands of people without a leg, and squandering billions on marginally therapeutic drugs. —Chris Norwood, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1