dispense

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verb dis·pense \ di-ˈspen(t)s \

Definition of dispense

dispensed; dispensing

transitive verb

1 a :to divide and share out according to a plan :to deal out in portions

dispense food among the needy

b :administer

dispense justice

2 :to exempt from a law or release from a vow, oath, or impediment :to give dispensation (see dispensation 2a) to :exempt

may dispense students from this requirement

3 :to prepare and distribute (medication)

dispensing pills to their patients

intransitive verb

archaic :to grant dispensation

— dispense with

1 :to set aside :discard

dispensing with the usual introduction

2 :to do without

could dispense with such a large staff

See dispense defined for English-language learners

See dispense defined for kids

Examples of dispense in a Sentence

The ATM only dispenses $20 bills.
a newspaper columnist who dispenses advice to millions of readers each week
Pharmacists are certified to dispense medication.

Recent Examples of dispense from the Web

HB 523 was signed in June 2016, but details about how medical marijuana would be licensed, cultivated and dispensed are still being worked out.

— jennie key, Cincinnati.com, "Two cities, two views of medical marijuana businesses," 11 Aug. 2017
The prescribers tended to be volunteers from the community trained as health workers, or shopkeepers who sell toilet paper and soft drinks along with dispensing medicine.

— leslie roberts, Science | AAAS, "Revolutionary malaria tests have unexpected downsides," 8 Aug. 2017
In June, Hogan issued a standing order that allowed the overdose-reversal drug naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, to be dispensed from licensed pharmacies without a prescription.

— rachel chason, Washington Post, "Maryland fentanyl deaths surge again in first quarter of 2017," 5 Aug. 2017
All in all, Scaramucci got an abject lesson in how quickly Trump dispenses with people who are no longer useful to him.

— william d. cohan, vanityfair.com, "The Mooch Is Dead! Long Live the Mooch!," 31 July 2017
Even the packaging is designed to maximize the formula; an airless tip dispenses the perfect amount of product and ensures the contents won't spill all over the inside of your bag.

— sarah wu, Teen Vogue, "Milk Makeup Launches Full Coverage Foundation for Blurring Skin," 24 July 2017
The bank has already surpassed that this year, dispensing more than 21,000 ounces in the first half of 2017.

— anna claire vollers, AL.com, "Rise in donated breast milk raises questions of fairness across Alabama," 19 July 2017
In the first few weeks of Paco Tapas’s existence, oak barrels behind the bar dispensed sherry, but now serve another purpose: to barrel-age cocktails.

— ratha tep, New York Times, "In Bristol, England, a Restaurant Goes Back to Rustic Basics," 14 July 2017
Eyes down, Brierly pushed a wheel to dispense the paint, walking slowly, heel-to-toe, heel-to-toe — first the vertical lines, then horizontal, ending at the baselines.

— howard fendrich, The Seattle Times, "Every morning, they mow, paint, mop Wimbledon’s grass courts," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dispense.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of dispense

Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin dispensare to exempt, from Latin, to distribute, from dis- + pensare to weigh, frequentative of pendere to weigh, pay out — more at spin

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First Known Use: 14th century

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dispense Synonyms

Synonyms

allocate, apportion, deal (out), administer, distribute, dole out, hand out, mete (out), parcel (out), portion, prorate

Antonyms

misallocate

Related Words

admeasure, allot, allow, appropriate, assign, dish out, divide, divvy (up), dollop (out), lot, measure (out), part, proportion, ration, redistribute, set, share (out), split; bestow, disburse, furnish, issue, provide, share, supply; circulate, disperse, disseminate, scatter, spread; chip in, contribute, donate, pledge; reallocate, reapportion

Near Antonyms

begrudge, decline, deny, deprive (of), disallow, refuse, reject, withhold; niggle (out), pinch, skimp, stint

Synonym Discussion of dispense

distribute, dispense, divide, deal, dole out mean to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group. distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts.

- distributed food to the needy

dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need.

- dispensed wisdom to the students

divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal.

- three charitable groups divided the proceeds

deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece.

- deal out equipment and supplies

dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply.

- doled out what little food there was

DISPENSE Defined for English Language Learners

dispense

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verb

Definition of dispense for English Language Learners

: to give or provide (something)
: to prepare and give (medicine)

DISPENSE Defined for Kids

dispense

play

verb dis·pense \ di-ˈspens \

Definition of dispense for Students

dispensed; dispensing

1 :to give out in small amounts

The machine dispenses candy.

2 :to give out as deserved

The judge dispensed justice.

3 :to put up or prepare medicine in a form ready for use

— dispense with

:to do or get along without Let's dispense with introductions.

Medical Dictionary

dispense

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transitive verb dis·pense \ dis-ˈpen(t)s \

medical Definition of dispense

dispensed; dispensing

1 :to put up (a prescription or medicine)

2 :to prepare and distribute (medication)

Learn More about dispense

See words that rhyme with dispense Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dispense Spanish Central: Translation of dispense Nglish: Translation of dispense for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of dispense for Arabic speakers

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DISPENSE Defined for English Language Learners

dispense

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dispense

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Medical Dictionary

dispense

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