disburse

1 of 2

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

disburser

2 of 2

noun

dis·​burs·​er

-sə(r)

plural -s

: one that disburses

foundations and others disbursers of research money should deal directly with universities

—S. E. Harris

Synonyms of disburse

Verb

• pay
• spend
• give

Examples of disburse in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

Prize will be disbursed within a reasonable time after sweepstakes closing and prize winner acceptance, subject to coordination with the applicable prize providers and prize element providers. — AJC.com, 18 June 2026

Simmons said while the suit moves through the court system, Evanston will continue to disburse reparations as planned. — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2026

Each will receive an unrestricted grant of $100,000, disbursed in two installments over a two-year period. — News Desk, Artforum, 18 June 2026

Any funds disbursed from Nick's trust would have required the approval of the trustee. — Sean Mandell, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

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

Verb

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