dole out

verb

doled out; doling out; doles out

transitive verb

1

: to give or deliver in small portions

2

: dish out

Synonyms

• administer
• allocate
• apportion
• deal (out)
• dispense
• distribute
• hand out
• mete (out)
• parcel (out)
• portion
• prorate

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

In spring 2025, the group has been doling out new tunes from the upcoming re-release. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

Per online reports, the erstwhile couple initially doled out $2.8 million for a roughly 90-acre estate near Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch back in the early 1990s. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 14 May 2025

Many farmers lost their land, while others received some of the $23 billion in subsidies that the first Trump administration doled out, courtesy of taxpayers like you and me. —Crista V. Worthy, Denver Post, 13 May 2025

Another portion of the NEA’s funding, about 40% McGaha said, goes to groups like Arts North Carolina that dole out their funds. —Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 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