deal

1 of 4

verb

dealt ˈdelt How to pronounce deal (audio) ; dealing ˈdē-liŋ How to pronounce deal (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to concern oneself or itself
The book deals with education.
a lawyer who deals with real estate law
2
a
: to take action with regard to someone or something
deal with an offender
Who's going to deal with this mess?
b
: to reach or try to reach a state of acceptance or reconcilement
trying to deal with her son's death
3
card games : to distribute the cards to players
your turn to deal
4
business
a
: to sell or distribute something as a business
deal in insurance
b
: to engage in bargaining : trade

transitive verb

1
a
card games : to distribute (playing cards) to players
Deal the cards.
b
: to give as one's portion : apportion
dealt out three sandwiches apiece
a judge dealing out punishments
2
: administer, deliver
dealt him a blow
3
business
a
: sell
deals drugs
b
: trade
deal a player to another team
dealer noun

deal

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
business
a
: an act of dealing (see deal entry 1 sense 4) : transaction
big corporate deals
a real estate deal
b
: contract sense 1a
signed a 2-year deal
c
: bargain
got a great deal on a new TV
accepted a plea deal
2
: an arrangement for mutual advantage
kept his side of the deal
3
: treatment received
a dirty deal
4
: situation, story
What is the deal with that guy?
tried to figure out her deal
5
: mccoy
used in the phrase the real deal
6
: affair sense 2
Dinner was an informal deal.
7

deal

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
: a usually large or indefinite quantity or degree
a great deal of support
a good deal faster
2
card games
a
: the act or right of distributing cards to players
It's your deal.
b
: hand sense 7b
have time for one more deal
3
obsolete : part, portion

deal

4 of 4

noun (3)

1
British : a board of fir or pine
2
: pine or fir wood
deal adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for deal

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 deal in a Sentence

Verb It's your turn to deal. Each player is dealt five cards. She was dealt a full house. dealing out the cards for a game of poker The offending players were dealt harsh penalties. She got caught dealing drugs in school.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Bowyer, a bookmaker, dealt directly with Mizuhara, who placed bets on soccer matches and other sports — except for baseball — beginning in 2021, sources told ESPN. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024 After the National Can deal, Mr. Peltz’s Triangle Industries swallowed the rival American Can’s packaging division in 1986. Lauren Hirsch, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024 Under the National Association of Realtors deal, which needs federal court approval, the group with more than 1.5 million members has agreed to prohibit listing agents from offering buyer brokers compensation. Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, 16 Mar. 2024 The House Oversight Committee, which is leading the impeachment inquiry, was dealt a setback last month when former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, whose story was central to Republicans' bribery claims, was indicted and charged with lying about the Bidens' business dealings. Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024 As the game went to extra-time, the home side was dealt a double blow when Ayman Yahya was sent off for a reckless challenge before Sultan Al-Shamsi made it 4-3 on aggregate, tapping into the net after Raghed Al-Najjar’s save miraculously bounced off the crossbar and into his path. George Ramsay, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 Myers’ front office drafted Green, hired Steve Kerr, traded for Kevin Durant, and used the first-round pick in the Andrew Wiggins deal to select Jonathan Kuminga. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 The new proposal would create harsher penalties for people who deal fentanyl and other hard drugs. Veronica Miracle, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 Players needed to deal about 5 trillion damage to break the chest free, which was done within 24 hours. Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024
Noun
Compass has invested over $1 billion in technology that helps the real estate firm’s nearly 30,000 agents move from the earliest point of contacting a prospective client to closing a deal, all via one tech platform. John Kell, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2024 The assessment fueled hope that a deal to pause hostilities and free additional Israeli hostages could eventually be reached as senior negotiators convene in Qatar on Friday. Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 Snell was introduced over the loudspeakers between the first and second innings to cheers from the strong crowd on hand, the two-time Cy Young winner’s free-agent deal becoming official moments before first pitch. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 But compared to custom prescription goggles, which can cost you over $100, there’s no denying that this pair is a deal. Marisa Petrarca, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024 March Madness has arrived and to celebrate, restaurants and fast food chains across the country are offering customers food deals. Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024 Under the terms of the plea deal, Koss’ sentencing was deferred one year, during which time his drivers license was suspended. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2024 With the Hertl and Karlsson deals, the Sharks will have two of their three retention spots tied up until the summer of 2027 when Karlsson’s deal expires. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Mark your calendars, because each deal featured in Ulta Beauty's first-ever Semi-Annual Beauty Event is only around for 24 hours at ulta.com. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2), Verb, and Noun (1)

Middle English deel, from Old English dǣl; akin to Old English dāl division, portion, Old High German teil part

Noun (3)

Middle English dele, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German, plank; akin to Old High German dili plank — more at thill

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deal was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near deal

Cite this Entry

“Deal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deal. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deal

1 of 3 noun
1
: a large or indefinite amount or extent
means a great deal
2
a
: the act or right of passing out cards to players in a card game

deal

2 of 3 verb
dealt ˈdelt How to pronounce deal (audio) ; dealing ˈdē-liŋ How to pronounce deal (audio)
1
: to give as one's portion : distribute
deal out sandwiches
deal the cards
2
: give entry 1 sense 9a
dealt him a blow
3
: to have to do : treat
the book deals with education
4
: to take action
deal with offenders
5
a
: to engage in bargaining : trade
b
: to sell or distribute something as a business
deals in insurance
dealer noun

deal

3 of 3 noun
1
a
: an act of dealing : transaction
b
: the result of bargaining : a mutual agreement
make a deal for a used car
2
: treatment received
a dirty deal
3
: an arrangement for the advantage of all involved

Legal Definition

deal

1 of 2 verb
dealt; dealing

transitive verb

: to carry on the business of buying or especially selling (something)
dealing drugs

intransitive verb

1
: to engage in bargaining
2
: to sell or distribute something as a business or for money
dealing in real estate
deal in stolen property

deal

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act of dealing : a business transaction
2
: an arrangement for mutual advantage (as for a defendant to testify in exchange for immunity from prosecution)

More from Merriam-Webster on deal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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