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

The city's top chefs, such as Charlie Palmer, Danny Meyer and Daniel Boulud, and food workers and volunteers would be doled out with tasks with everything from cutting veggies to organizing forks, spoons and plates. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Underfoot, the Modern Tour combines TravisMathew’s proprietary NuRise Tech insole with NuAge Foam cushioning, doling out support and responsive rebound when players need it most. — Katie Ann Lehman, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026

Before Tuesday's vote, the punishment has been doled out just 28 other times. — Claudia Grisales, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026

The investigation in Loretto was sparked after the West Side safety net hospital came under fire for improperly doling out COVID-19 vaccinations soon after the shots became available. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 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