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

Both for-profit and nonprofit companies can apply, and the funds are expected to be disbursed in the fall. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

However, due to the current political situation in the country, these funds have not yet been disbursed. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 14 July 2026

Established in 1979, the division helps states disburse IDEA funding to school districts for many things, including resources like assistive technology for students' Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 11 July 2026

But, to date, no funds have been disbursed to the five regional Workforce Development Boards that use state and federal funding to train workers and link them with potential employers. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 10 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