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 WebOpen for lunch Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., this restaurant doles out bento boxes, ramen, sushi, and more.—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2024 But for his own line of work, Murray doled out some advice for when jokes go horribly wrong.—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 9 June 2024 Millions have been doled out in settlements due to the actions of his deputies.—The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 5 June 2024 This season, rental car companies are doling out major savings, airlines are beefing up their getaway deals, and countless hotels and resorts are slashing room rates to compete for your attention.—Kyler Alvord, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 May 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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