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 WebA little over two years ago, Spencer Dinwiddie doled out $6.9 million for a modern Craftsman-style mansion in an exclusive gated enclave of 26 homes set amid a suburban area of Los Angeles between Malibu and Calabasas.—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2024 Amazon shoppers have doled out thousands of five-star reviews for this budget-friendly towel set (which costs less than $40 for four towels!).—Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 23 Sep. 2024 Since 2015, a federal program aimed at addressing the backlog has doled out nearly $350 million to states and local jurisdictions.—USA TODAY, 19 Sep. 2024 Amtrak received $500,000 from the federal government in 2023 to start work on the project; earlier this month, the Federal Railroad Administration doled out $63.9 million for the project, sparking greater anticipation.—Timothy Malcolm, Chron, 14 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dole out
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dole out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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