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
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But scandal soon erupted after officials at Loretto, including Ahmed, were accused of improperly doling out COVID-19 vaccinations soon after the shots became available.—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025 Under the new distribution system in Gaza, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to travel long distances, including in areas controlled by the Israeli military, to reach a handful of aid sites sprinkled across the enclave, with limited supplies being doled out each day.—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 18 June 2025 Do was sentenced June 9 to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges of accepting more than $550,000 in bribes in exchange for doling out $10 million in pandemic relief money.—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 17 June 2025 Grassroots efforts like these were responsible for later advancements such as the inclusion of women and minorities on promotion panels, an equitable process for doling out field assignments and the creation of a childcare facility on the CIA’s grounds, among others.—Christina Hillsberg, People.com, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dole out
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