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

Some retailers might go all out starting at midnight on Friday, and others will wait until Monday to dole out some of their best deals. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, for example, has doled out billions of dollars since 2021 to local nonprofits trying to house people, including at least $25 million to the 1736 FCC. — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Cubanski said the Medicare rebate payments were being doled out when Americans were feeling the bite of higher food, energy and gas prices. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Damo, Brick Savage, Kushida, Ikuro Kwon, Okumira, Josef Samael and Sentai Death Squad are the members of the group eager to dole out punishment to anyone who steps to them. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 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