HANDING OUT Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

handing out

verb

present participle of hand out

as in distributing

to give out (something) to appropriate individuals no system yet in place for handing out room assignments

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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 handing out Before the cars are back on track, The Athletic’s F1 experts Luke Smith and Madeline Coleman have analyzed each team to date this season, handing out midterm report cards. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Illinois is dropping another $17M this year, handing out grants to 39 organizations participating in the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program. — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 The days of casually handing out nine-figure signing bonuses are likely over. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 The Kansas City People’s Choice Awards has become more than a night for handing out trophies. — Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026 The camper suspected of handing out the laced food has been identified, authorities said. — Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026 When the conflict started in late February, companies in the region tried to retain staff by trimming pay and hours and handing out unpaid leave in the hope the disruption would soon pass. — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 22 July 2026 They were pushed by the group on a Telegram channel dedicated to their activities, which include other marches and handing out Patriot Front flyers and stickers. — Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 The most aggressive people on the walk were the various religious groups—Scientologists, Christians—handing out literature, including a million-dollar bill that promised the path to heaven. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handing out

Verb

That would guarantee exclusive 45-day theatrical windows and a moratorium on distributing the movies on streaming services for at least 90 days, with potentially financial penalties if Paramount failed to hold up its end of the bargain.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026
Cardinal is a behind-the-scenes healthcare giant, distributing drugs and medical supplies to hospitals and pharmacies.

— Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of distributing

Verb

The Dodgers, to their credit, have built a great team—not only by doling out huge salaries but by building an élite development program.

— Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026
Online, influencers in the looksmaxxing space have leveraged other men's insecurities to enormous fame while doling out aesthetic advice with little, if any, credentials.

— Charles Trepany, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of doling out

Verb

Trade data show China has fully transitioned from providing mostly low cost manufacturing to supplying vital machinery and components for advanced manufacturing.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Knitwear made from thin, airy materials or designed with an oversized fit is ideal for providing the touch of warmth needed on cool summer nights, while also working well with extra layers when fall weather arrives.

— Natalie LaBarbera, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of providing

Verb

The bill would create a federal rulebook for issuing, trading and holding digital assets, dividing oversight between the SEC and CFTC, Bambysheva writes.

— Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Mathon downsized that proposal, and in late June asked to rezone just 98 acres for multifamily development, while dividing the rest of the acreage — much of it with wetlands — between traditional housing and industrial park zones.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of dividing

Verb

In its 2025 report, the state auditor recommended that the Legislature consider allocating NAGPRA-specific funding to the university system which would come with conditions of compliance.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026
For example, shifting the Fed’s portfolio toward short-term Treasury bills and away from long-term bonds or mortgage-back securities could reduce market price distortion and limit the government’s role in allocating capital across sectors.

— David Zhang, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of allocating

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handing on

handing out

handing over

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“Handing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handing%20out. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of handing out

verb

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