as in distributing
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals
no system yet in place for handing out room assignments
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Recent Examples of handing out
The work at a syringe exchange center, like the one housed at the Damien Center on Indianapolis' east side, doesn't begin and end with handing out sterile needles.
—
Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 13 Feb. 2026
Sitting in traffic outside the stadium, a group of protesters started handing out hand towels calling for protests in the satdium.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
Martin de Anda, another Gen Zer, chose to supplement his loan underwriter job in Los Angeles by handing out flyers for other businesses.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Fland had just one while handing out eight assists in 34 minutes.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Cases like those create the perception that the NCAA is handing out extra eligibility to anybody who asks, which is incorrect.
—Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The Heart Party Favors or Milk Chocolate Heart Candy Canes are ideal for handing out to your child’s class or party favors for your Galentine’s get-together, while the 10-ounce bags are perfect for baking or filling a candy bowl at home or the office.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Both are on a mission, handing out flyers for Luis’ missing daughter, Mar, swallowed by the seemingly endless nomadic rave culture.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Joyce and Vecna’s high school days are also briefly depicted in season 5 of Stranger Things, when Max (Sadie Sink) and Holly (Nell Fisher) wade through Henry’s memories and spot Joyce handing out flyers for the school's theater production of Oklahoma.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 13 Feb. 2026
Sitting in traffic outside the stadium, a group of protesters started handing out hand towels calling for protests in the satdium.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
Martin de Anda, another Gen Zer, chose to supplement his loan underwriter job in Los Angeles by handing out flyers for other businesses.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Fland had just one while handing out eight assists in 34 minutes.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Cases like those create the perception that the NCAA is handing out extra eligibility to anybody who asks, which is incorrect.
—Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The Heart Party Favors or Milk Chocolate Heart Candy Canes are ideal for handing out to your child’s class or party favors for your Galentine’s get-together, while the 10-ounce bags are perfect for baking or filling a candy bowl at home or the office.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Both are on a mission, handing out flyers for Luis’ missing daughter, Mar, swallowed by the seemingly endless nomadic rave culture.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Joyce and Vecna’s high school days are also briefly depicted in season 5 of Stranger Things, when Max (Sadie Sink) and Holly (Nell Fisher) wade through Henry’s memories and spot Joyce handing out flyers for the school's theater production of Oklahoma.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handing out
Verb
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Protective barriers like rug pads can help with distributing the weight from a heavy piece of furniture, but these aren't foolproof, Cox says.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
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In at least one case, a Riverside County church is distributing special Lent packets, complete with small baggies of Lenten ash, to be delivered to those too fearful of coming in person to a church.—
Julianna Lozada,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As for the new tunnel, slim it down by dispensing with outmoded technology that the rest of the world has abandoned like bench walls and, most critically, change the alignment of the tunnel.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Destined for the landfill after a few years of dispensing mediocre coffee.—
Michael J. Coren,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Coffee giant Starbucks is celebrating a win after Super Bowl 60, doling out free coffee to its Starbucks Rewards members while also debuting a new coffee blend and a new pastry lineup.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
9 Feb. 2026
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Before the BusPatrol camera program was suspended last year for doling out questionable violations, the private company running the operation was also mailing out violations with faulty information.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Defenseman Noah Hanifin added another when his shot got through Mads Sogaard and trickled over the goal line a bit later, providing some breathing room that proved necessary.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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Some even attract animals and rodents by providing them with shelter.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cool the sauce quickly by dividing it into multiple shallow containers, and make sure to refrigerate within two hours of cooking.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
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Heating Degree Days are calculated by taking the day's high temperature and adding it to the day's low temperature, then dividing by 2 and subtracting that value from 65.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The legislation would provide greater flexibility for governments in allocating funding under the program, which was created in 1990 as part of a broader shift in housing policy toward greater responsibility for states and cities.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
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Judge Miguel Espinoza both praised and criticized the county’s progress at the hearing, at times applauding the collaboration between stakeholders and at other times questioning whether the Board of Supervisors was allocating enough resources.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handing%20out. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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