dole out

verb

doled out; doling out; doles out

transitive verb

1

: to give or deliver in small portions

2

: dish out

Synonyms

• 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

Lawmakers then doled out another $14 million for litigation in the current budget. —Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2025

When Rihanna’s penchant for luxe statement pieces meets Puma’s devotion to sporty lifestyle products that dole out functionality, sparks fly. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2025

People have been doling out anywhere from about $30 to $150,000 a toy. —Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 4 Aug. 2025

Antica Locanda doles out comforting Sicilian dishes, from platters of fresh fish to generous bowls of seafood pasta. —Michele Becker, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2025

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