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
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
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
5
: mccoy
—used in the phrase the real deal
6
: affair sense 2
Dinner was an informal deal.
7
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
Examples of deal in a Sentence
Noun (1)
we made a deal to cooperate on the next assignment
we closed the deal for the house last week
if the other party backs out of the deal after it's signed, you can sue
we don't yet know what the deal is with the new manager
that mail-order sweater isn't such a great deal after you factor in the cost of shipping and handling
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.
Noun (2)
there is a great deal of waste in government
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2025
Analysts also said that Mr. Zelensky successfully negotiated a much better minerals deal than the one originally presented to his government in February, which critics called tantamount to extortion.
—Michael Crowley, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Elizabeth Piper, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Since being announced last April, about half of the films on the list are available now in the U.S. or are coming soon, either through traditional distro deals or bespoke rollouts.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deal
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
But the way Yamamoto was dealing, the lack of run support posed little problem.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2025
Analysts also said that Mr. Zelensky successfully negotiated a much better minerals deal than the one originally presented to his government in February, which critics called tantamount to extortion.
—Michael Crowley, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Noun
The downgrading of the talks comes at a critical time, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Washington could walk away if there was no progress on a deal soon.
—Elizabeth Piper, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Since being announced last April, about half of the films on the list are available now in the U.S. or are coming soon, either through traditional distro deals or bespoke rollouts.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deal
Cite this Entry
“Deal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deal. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deal
1 of 3 noun1
: 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 verb1
: 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
deal
3 of 3 noun1
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
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