disburse

verb

dis·​burse dis-ˈbərs 

disbursed; disbursing

transitive verb

1

a

: to pay out : expend especially from a fund

disburse money

b

: to make a payment in settlement of

disburse a bill

2

: distribute

disburser noun

Synonyms of disburse

• pay
• spend
• give

Examples of disburse in a Sentence

The money will be disbursed on the basis of need.

The government has disbursed millions of dollars in foreign aid.

Recent Examples on the Web

However, concerns arise as funds accumulate in vehicles like DAFs faster than they are disbursed, creating a tension within the sector. — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

The collective interest is routed to the IOLTA, and a board disburses money as grants to eligible legal aid groups that apply. — Nick Sullivan july 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026

However, the military momentum has been on Ukraine’s side, and the EU has begun disbursing billions of dollars to strengthen Kyiv’s defenses while announcing new sanctions on the Kremlin. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 2 July 2026

Obligated funds means the government is legally bound to disburse that money for a specific purpose. — ABC News, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French desbourser, from Old French desborser, from des- dis- + borse purse, from Medieval Latin bursa

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for disburse

• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disperse
• diverse
• immerse
• inverse
• obverse
• perverse
• rehearse
• reverse
• transverse

Kids Definition

disburse

verb

dis·​burse dis-ˈbərs 

disbursed; disbursing

: to pay out : expend

disburse money

disburser noun

Etymology

from early French desbourser "to pay out money," from des- "out, away" and borse "a purse," from Latin bursa "a small leather bag" — related to purse, reimburse