mete

1 of 2

verb

ˈmēt 

meted; meting

transitive verb

1

: to give out by measure : dole out

She realized the stern retribution which justice metes to the murderer.

—Edgar Rice Burroughs

—usually used with out

mete out punishment

2

archaic : measure

mete

2 of 2

noun

: boundary

metes and bounds

Synonyms

Verb

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

Examples of mete in a Sentence

Verb

determined to mete out an appropriate punishment for the CEO guilty of insider trading

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Execution is a universal punishment for treason; only barbarians violate civilized norms in meting it out. —Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023

In many cases between 1995 and 2000, juries meted lengthy sentences under the mistaken belief that prisoners could earn early parole with good behavior. —Brad Townsend, Dallas News, 27 July 2023

Noun

Portuguese Bend residents generally favor a system more in tune with metes and bounds, a mapping method that uses physical landmarks such as trees, walls and roads to measure parcels. —Jack Flemmingstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2023

But watching him and Kayce and Beth and Rip mete out frontier justice can be uncomfortably satisfying, an atavistic thrill. —Sridhar Pappu, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English metan; akin to Old High German mezzan to measure, Latin modus measure, Greek medesthai to be mindful of

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin meta

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mete

• mete out

Kids Definition

mete

verb

ˈmēt

meted; meting

: to distribute in a fair or proper manner

mete out rewards