handout

1 of 2

noun

hand·​out ˈhand-ˌau̇t 

1

: a portion of food, clothing, or money given to or as if to a beggar

2

: a folder or circular of information for free distribution

3

: a prepared statement released to the news media

hand out

2 of 2

verb

handed out; handing out; hands out

transitive verb

1

a

: to give without charge

b

: to give freely

2

: administer

handed out a severe punishment

Synonyms

Verb

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

Examples of handout in a Sentence

Noun

He sat on the sidewalk asking for a handout.

The family wasn't interested in government handouts.

The handouts had all the major points of his speech outlined on them.

Verb

no system yet in place for handing out room assignments

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here’s last week’s handouts, the instructor said, read them at your leisure at home, and gave Eliza a toothy smile that turned the austere face suddenly soft and dimpled. —Lauren Groff, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024

Hong Kong has found many plant and animal fossils, including ostracod and ammonite fossils from about 400 to 190 million years ago, but this is the first time dinosaur fossils have been unearthed in the city, the handout said. —Peter Guo, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024

Verb

The Recording Academy is set to hand out 90-something Grammy Awards beginning with the Premiere Ceremony at 2:30 p.m. CT. —Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

So Hoey flagged down a flight attendant who was handing out water and offered to help. —Faith Karimi, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

handout

noun

hand·​out ˈhan-ˌdau̇t 

1

: food, clothing, or money given to a beggar

2

: an information sheet for free distribution

3

: a prepared statement released to the press