disburse

verb

dis·​burse dis-ˈbərs How to pronounce disburse (audio)
disbursed; disbursing
Synonyms of disbursenext

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
disburser noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The administration previously attempted to shut down the institute, which also disburses federal dollars to museums nationwide. Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026 However, once the funds were disbursed, Johnson used the money to fund his lifestyle, including purchasing cryptocurrency and transferring the funds to foreign markets in an effort to conceal the illicit proceeds. Preston Mizell , Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026 The top three vote-getters will receive $40,000, $33,000, and $25,000 respectively, while the remaining three finalists will each receive $5,000 consolation grants — totaling $113,000 disbursed. News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026 Of course, the federal government was disbursing billions in COVID-19 aid to states during 2022, the flow of which has dried up as governments face sober fiscal realities. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disburse

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of disburse was in 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Disburse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disburse. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

disburse

verb
dis·​burse dis-ˈbərs How to pronounce disburse (audio)
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

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