deal

1 of 4

verb

dealt ˈdelt How to pronounce deal (audio) ; dealing ˈdē-liŋ How to pronounce deal (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to concern oneself or itself
The book deals with education.
a lawyer who deals with real estate law
2
a
: to take action with regard to someone or something
deal with an offender
Who's going to deal with this mess?
b
: to reach or try to reach a state of acceptance or reconcilement
trying to deal with her son's death
3
card games : to distribute the cards to players
your turn to deal
4
business
a
: to sell or distribute something as a business
deal in insurance
b
: to engage in bargaining : trade

transitive verb

1
a
card games : to distribute (playing cards) to players
Deal the cards.
b
: to give as one's portion : apportion
dealt out three sandwiches apiece
a judge dealing out punishments
2
: administer, deliver
dealt him a blow
3
business
a
: sell
deals drugs
b
: trade
deal a player to another team
dealer noun

deal

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
business
a
: an act of dealing (see deal entry 1 sense 4) : transaction
big corporate deals
a real estate deal
b
: contract sense 1a
signed a 2-year deal
c
: bargain
got a great deal on a new TV
accepted a plea deal
2
: an arrangement for mutual advantage
kept his side of the deal
3
: treatment received
a dirty deal
4
: situation, story
What is the deal with that guy?
tried to figure out her deal
5
: mccoy
used in the phrase the real deal
6
: affair sense 2
Dinner was an informal deal.
7

deal

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
: a usually large or indefinite quantity or degree
a great deal of support
a good deal faster
2
card games
a
: the act or right of distributing cards to players
It's your deal.
b
: hand sense 7b
have time for one more deal
3
obsolete : part, portion

deal

4 of 4

noun (3)

1
British : a board of fir or pine
2
: pine or fir wood
deal adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for deal

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 deal in a Sentence

Verb It's your turn to deal. Each player is dealt five cards. She was dealt a full house. dealing out the cards for a game of poker The offending players were dealt harsh penalties. She got caught dealing drugs in school.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The new proposal would create harsher penalties for people who deal fentanyl and other hard drugs. Veronica Miracle, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 Players needed to deal about 5 trillion damage to break the chest free, which was done within 24 hours. Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 The expansion project has put the convention center in the spotlight, with leaders saying it's been in decline for years, even before it was dealt a devastating blow when the Millennium Hotel, which served as the convention headquarters hotel, closed on New Year's Eve 2019. The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024 He’s dealt a slight disadvantage in this regard since his character is written as an over-the-top, wide-eyed optimist with colorful quirks — a Manic Pixie Dream Boy for the introverted Doom. Courtney Howard, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 The move has made IAG the first European airline group to confirm an e-SAF deal ahead of its competitors. Gaurav Sharma, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The Kroger-Albertsons deal is the latest mega merger targeted by federal authorities, following the FTC's successful challenge to the JetBlue-Spirit Airlines deal. Diane Brady, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 Seeing similarities to Packers Hall of Famer Brett Favre, coach Andy Reid and scout Brett Veach dealt three premium picks to get him. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 The ruling dealt a significant setback to the NCAA’s attempts to rein in pay for students who play sports at its universities. Jamiel Lynch, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
Under the terms of the plea deal, Koss’ sentencing was deferred one year, during which time his drivers license was suspended. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2024 With the Hertl and Karlsson deals, the Sharks will have two of their three retention spots tied up until the summer of 2027 when Karlsson’s deal expires. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Mark your calendars, because each deal featured in Ulta Beauty's first-ever Semi-Annual Beauty Event is only around for 24 hours at ulta.com. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 8 Mar. 2024 Rai voted in favor of the diversity deal both times. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024 Female founders’ total deal count was down by more than 25% last year, no doubt reflecting the overall pullback in the broader environment. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Later in 2022, Turkey, along with the United Nations, also brokered a deal between Russia and Ukraine that allowed the shipment of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. Ayse Wieting and Suzan Fraser, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, leaders of multiple counties continued negotiating a deal that would include a pause in the fighting and the release of many of the over 100 hostages who are still being held in Gaza. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024 Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday made clear that a cease-fire deal for Gaza wouldn't affect the military's daily low-level clashes with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a Hamas ally. Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2), Verb, and Noun (1)

Middle English deel, from Old English dǣl; akin to Old English dāl division, portion, Old High German teil part

Noun (3)

Middle English dele, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German, plank; akin to Old High German dili plank — more at thill

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deal was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near deal

Cite this Entry

“Deal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deal

1 of 3 noun
1
: a large or indefinite amount or extent
means a great deal
2
a
: the act or right of passing out cards to players in a card game

deal

2 of 3 verb
dealt ˈdelt How to pronounce deal (audio) ; dealing ˈdē-liŋ How to pronounce deal (audio)
1
: to give as one's portion : distribute
deal out sandwiches
deal the cards
2
: give entry 1 sense 9a
dealt him a blow
3
: to have to do : treat
the book deals with education
4
: to take action
deal with offenders
5
a
: to engage in bargaining : trade
b
: to sell or distribute something as a business
deals in insurance
dealer noun

deal

3 of 3 noun
1
a
: an act of dealing : transaction
b
: the result of bargaining : a mutual agreement
make a deal for a used car
2
: treatment received
a dirty deal
3
: an arrangement for the advantage of all involved

Legal Definition

deal

1 of 2 verb
dealt; dealing

transitive verb

: to carry on the business of buying or especially selling (something)
dealing drugs

intransitive verb

1
: to engage in bargaining
2
: to sell or distribute something as a business or for money
dealing in real estate
deal in stolen property

deal

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act of dealing : a business transaction
2
: an arrangement for mutual advantage (as for a defendant to testify in exchange for immunity from prosecution)

More from Merriam-Webster on deal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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