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

Each will receive an unrestricted $60,000 grant, disbursed over a five-year period. — News Desk, Artforum, 12 Aug. 2026

The firm had collected millions in settlement payments from Boeing that it was supposed to disburse to clients beginning in March 2020. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026

Today, with the help of that initial $3 million, plus the first half of another $3 million of Measure B funds that the county decided to disburse to the hospital, Catalina Island Health has 45 days of cash on hand. — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Sony did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment on plans to disburse any refunds to customers. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 5 Aug. 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