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
Examples of dole out in a Sentence
she doles out office supplies as if she were paying for them out of her own pocket
Recent Examples on the WebSince then, Google has doled out $59 million in rewards.—Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 15 July 2024 Tran’s family shows up briefly in the premiere, doling out some words of advice and wishing her luck in her quest to find a match.—Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 11 July 2024 Now, a former SBA employee in Miami has been charged with ripping off the very agency that was tasked with doling out about $800 billion in emergency benefits nationwide after the coronavirus swept the nation in March 2020.—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 11 July 2024 Next, the dynamic duo shared with the audience the wines people find the hardest to say, like Chenin Blanc, and doled out their best tips for tackling tough varietals.—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 5 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for dole out
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dole out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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