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 awards came shortly thereafter, doling out the first accolades in 1991. —Carly Westerfield, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 June 2026

Along with Winn, credit should also be doled out to rookie catcher Daniel Susac. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 June 2026

More than $200 billion in Covid relief loans and grants was most likely doled out to fraudsters from March 2020 to January 2022, according to government reports. —Rich Schapiro, NBC news, 3 June 2026

In the wake of the shooting, many New Yorkers anointed him a hero for doling out street justice in the crime-riddled subway system. —Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 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