distribute

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb distribute differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of distribute are deal, dispense, divide, and dole out. While all these words 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

When can deal be used instead of distribute?

While the synonyms deal and distribute are close in meaning, deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece.

deal out equipment and supplies

In what contexts can dispense take the place of distribute?

The synonyms dispense and distribute are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When is divide a more appropriate choice than distribute?

In some situations, the words divide and distribute are roughly equivalent. However, divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal.

three charitable groups divided the proceeds

When could dole out be used to replace distribute?

While in some cases nearly identical to distribute, dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply.

doled out what little food there was

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of distribute The vaccines will be distributed across rural areas by airplane and in suburban and urban areas by helicopter and vehicle, across Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025 The district needs to do a better job of distributing its limited resources. Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Oct. 2025 Everyone wants to have their films to be distributed in the States. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025 Other benefits — like health insurance or leave policies — are also unequally distributed. Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for distribute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distribute
Verb
  • Related Stories In a nutsell, the test arranged by the cutter’s union documented that AI tools are great for organizing, classifying and summarizing.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Police and the media classified Gacy’s victims as male prostitutes and homosexuals, using that as an excuse to marginalize and blame them.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The upper basin states use less water than what is allotted to them in the compact, while the lower basin states use more.
    The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Bayern were allotted the hardest draw of the league phase by Opta’s fixture difficulty metric and still have to take on PSG and Arsenal.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Many hydrants failed to dispense water.
    Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
  • With a steady showing over the past six seasons, one rough year from the former Cy Young candidate shouldn't be enough to dispense the noise around him in the offseason.
    Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Chicago ranks 23rd in EPA/play, according to TruMedia, and its most impressive performance has come against a dreadful Cowboys defense.
    Austin Mock, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Board members used a points system to rank their top three choices; each member's top candidate received three points, their second choice received two points and their third choice received one point.
    Edward McKinnon, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • They were promoted to creative directors of accessories at Valentino when Alessandra Facchinetti was assigned the same title for ready-to-wear after Garavani retired in 2007.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Prouse's priority was to avoid any child feeling labeled or purposely assigned to a table that wasn't as academically strong.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Arrington provided several recommendations on how to acquire such a replica.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
  • The governor vetoed a bill on Saturday that would have provided more transparency around the water usage of data centers, which regularly require millions of gallons of fresh water to cool their computers.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This figure does not distinguish between combatants and civilians and is disputed by Israeli officials, but is widely cited by Western sources.
    Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Dean and distinguished professor for the school of management and labor relations at Rutgers University Mark Anner defined the wage gap as the difference between the prevailing wage (what workers actually get) and what they should be paid (the living wage).
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Lawmakers proposed allocating additional disaster relief funds in the 2025 national budget, and international bodies, including the United Nations, have pledged support to the Philippine government.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Lines allocate scarce resources by making people pay with time instead of money, thereby turning patience into a form of currency.
    Big Think, Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Distribute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distribute. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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