dole out

verb

doled out; doling out; doles out

transitive verb

1

: to give or deliver in small portions

2

: dish out

Synonyms of dole out

• distribute
• dispense
• provide
• deal (out)
• hand out
• allocate
• divide

Choose the Right Synonym for dole out

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

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 Web

Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie sat in their Hawaiian thrones mostly doling out compliments. —Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026

School programs would be funded through money doled out by the Illinois State Board of Education. —Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026

The decision omitted any details about the refunds, leaving it up to lower courts, such as the Court of International Trade, to outline the process of how they would be doled out. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026

After Rangeview’s undefeated season went up in smoke last March at the Denver Coliseum, Archie Weatherspoon V doled out a big hug and an even bigger proclamation. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dole out

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout