as in to distribute
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals
she doles out office supplies as if she were paying for them out of her own pocket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 dole out
The version of Senate Bill 270 that passed by the House 61-35 will require mergers for townships that don't meet certain performance criteria, such as doling out township assistance or meeting other regulatory requirements.
—
Kaitlin Lange, IndyStar, 25 Feb. 2026
Babyfxce’s previous album was more like a smorgasbord, doling out dirty talk over thumping twerk-drill and groovy funk beats.
—Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 23 Feb. 2026
At times, his social role will overlap with that of other weight-room regulars, not least of which is the gym grandpa, who hangs around and shoots the breeze and doles out tips on how to lift.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
The punishment includes the NCAA’s automatic one-game suspension for fighting, plus an additional two games doled out by the Big East.
—Peter Sblendorio, Hartford Courant, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dole out
Kaitlin Lange, IndyStar, 25 Feb. 2026
Babyfxce’s previous album was more like a smorgasbord, doling out dirty talk over thumping twerk-drill and groovy funk beats.
—Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 23 Feb. 2026
At times, his social role will overlap with that of other weight-room regulars, not least of which is the gym grandpa, who hangs around and shoots the breeze and doles out tips on how to lift.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
The punishment includes the NCAA’s automatic one-game suspension for fighting, plus an additional two games doled out by the Big East.
—Peter Sblendorio, Hartford Courant, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dole out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dole out
Verb
-
Between 1974 and 1976 alone, the National Endowment for the Arts distributed nearly forty million dollars in grants to sixteen hundred projects.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Encompassing more than a thousand nonprofit cultural organizations across five boroughs, the DCA is the largest municipal cultural funder in the US, distributing $245 million over the last fiscal year.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
First seen at a night-club table of menacing lowlifes, Ida, whose mother tongue is Brooklynese, suddenly switches to a heavy British accent and dispenses a torrent of highly literary sarcasms.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Often used by pilots, sailors, hikers and others to dispense emergency notifications from remote areas, the 406 beacons can be smaller, personal devices or larger units that are mounted to planes or boats and triggered automatically in crisis scenarios.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As people come in, the money goes back into neighborhoods as police and firemen, snowplows and road crews — the infrastructure and services residents expect government to provide.—
Mark Dee
March 6,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Now, Beaudet and her colleagues have digitally rearranged the facial bones to their rightful places, providing a clearer look at Little Foot’s face — and hinting at features that may be shared across the human family tree.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Local vendors handing out samples included barbecue sauce and seasoning from Riley’s Ribz, Essie Marie’s Salad Dressing and healthy crustless sandwiches for kids from Mo’Mo Bites.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Free agency Last year, the Patriots handed out $364 million in free-agent contracts and nearly $175 million guaranteed at signing.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Last year, lawmakers boosted the annual amount allocated to the state’s film and TV tax credit program and expanded the criteria for eligible projects in an attempt to lure production back to California.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The agreements, outlined in ongoing consent decrees with Baltimore City and Baltimore County, mean that additional sewer capacity cannot be allocated to Anne Arundel County.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Party strategists in both camps acknowledge that a prolonged and bitter runoff could leave Republicans divided heading into the fall.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Committee members were split on proposals to close schools — divided between the belief that campuses with few students burden staff and provide limited resources, and the worry that combining small schools will create overcrowding, split communities and harm students.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dole out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dole%20out. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
