dispense

verb

dis·​pense di-ˈspen(t)s 

dispensed; dispensing

transitive verb

1

a

: to divide and share out according to a plan : to deal out in portions

dispense food among the needy

b

: administer

dispense justice

2

: to exempt from a law or release from a vow, oath, or impediment : to give dispensation (see dispensation sense 2a) to : exempt

may dispense students from this requirement

3

: to prepare and distribute (medication)

dispensing pills to their patients

intransitive verb

archaic : to grant dispensation

Phrases

dispense with

1

: to set aside : discard

dispensing with the usual introduction

2

: to do without

could dispense with such a large staff

Synonyms

• distribute
• provide
• administer
• allocate

Choose the Right Synonym for dispense

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 dispense in a Sentence

The ATM only dispenses $20 bills.

a newspaper columnist who dispenses advice to millions of readers each week

Pharmacists are certified to dispense medication.

Recent Examples on the Web

The previous high for a single window was the £398m spent by Chelsea in 2023, and though the latter’s spending over the course of a season then might still outstrip Liverpool’s (Chelsea went big that January too), there’s no denying the sums dispensed from Merseyside have been huge. —James McNicholas, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025

In the Harvard case, Burroughs held that a single order could dispense with both the university’s First Amendment and Title VI claims. —Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025

Then hit the autofill button, and the nozzle lowers down to just over the rim of the glass and starts dispensing. —Pcmag Staff, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025

From interactive games to snuffle mats and treat-dispensing toys, there are plenty of puzzles out there on the market. —Kelsey Monstrola, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin dispensare to exempt, from Latin, to distribute, from dis- + pensare to weigh, frequentative of pendere to weigh, pay out — more at spin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for dispense

• commence
• condense
• defence
• defense
• expense
• fourpence
• halfpence
• immense
• incense
• intense
• missense
• offence

Kids Definition

dispense

verb

dis·​pense dis-ˈpen(t)s 

dispensed; dispensing

1

a

: to give out in shares

dispense charity

b

: to give out as deserved

dispense justice

2

: to prepare and give out (medicines)

Medical Definition

dispense

transitive verb

dis·​pense dis-ˈpen(t)s 

dispensed; dispensing

1

: to put up (a prescription or medicine)

2

: to prepare and distribute (medication)