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 WebMadonna recently doled out a new EP centered around the song.—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024 The agencies that dole out state money to public charger companies — the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission — have taken a soft-core approach to holding the companies responsible.—Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2024 His new children’s book, 5 More Sleeps ’Til Halloween, about a boy waiting for trick-or-treat night, is out this week and dedicated to a childhood neighbor who would dole out full-size candy bars on Halloween.—Grace Bastidas, Parents, 2 Sep. 2024 Germany's Sports Aid Foundation doles out cash prizes up to eighth place finishers at the Olympic Games.—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 31 July 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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