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

Around five years ago, William Roth Martin doled out nearly $8.8 million for a 117-year-old mansion in San Francisco’s affluent Pacific Heights neighborhood, just minutes from Lafayette Park and bustling Fillmore Street. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2025

Metro Denver school districts — flush with COVID-19 relief money — doled out larger teacher raises after students returned to classrooms during the pandemic amid widespread staff shortages. —Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2025

In the tightly packed center of the colony, justice isn’t always doled out by a single bird. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

That same year the nonprofit doled out $53.7 million in grants and charitable gifts. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 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