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

Music is doled out note by note, sometimes stripped back to a one-finger descending scale on the piano, often absent altogether. —Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 19 May 2026

The lumbar laminectomy is just one example of the extraordinarily high awards being doled out under the flawed system created by the 2020 law. —Tara Bannow, STAT, 19 May 2026

The property also boasts amenities such as a rooftop pool, an on-site gym, and dining options like Spinning Jenny’s Coffee Bar, which doles out local favorites, including bagels baked by Rover Bagel in the nearby historic Pepperell Mill. —Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026

Vigilantes doling out justice in Hell’s Kitchen, steamy romances in the English countryside, and cowboys just trying to hang onto the ranch – again. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 May 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