as in distributes
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals
no system yet in place for handing out room assignments
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Recent Examples of hands out
Roxana Jullapat hands out chocolate muffins to her team.
—
Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Blakespear recognizes Women Who Inspire in Senate District 38, while Boerner hands out Women of Impact awards in the 77th Assembly District.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
The country’s economic crimes unit has opened a corruption investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland — who also once headed the committee that hands out the Nobel Peace Prize — over his ties with Epstein.
—Jill Lawless, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
This single fine is close to the normal total of $8 million to $10 million in all fines that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration hands out each year.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2026
Boston Public Health Commissioner Bisola Ojikutu revealed in September that the city hands out more than 80,000 needles per month to drug users.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Though there were reports that Cassidy and Payne had split in May of the following year, the couple dispelled rumors the next month when they were spotted holding hands out on a date night in London.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
The state hands out the money based on student attendance.
—Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman, 10 Sep. 2025
But Liam is with her when their family hands out enchiladas and care packages to the homeless — something Liam always asked to do with his McDonald’s Happy Meals.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Blakespear recognizes Women Who Inspire in Senate District 38, while Boerner hands out Women of Impact awards in the 77th Assembly District.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
The country’s economic crimes unit has opened a corruption investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland — who also once headed the committee that hands out the Nobel Peace Prize — over his ties with Epstein.
—Jill Lawless, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
This single fine is close to the normal total of $8 million to $10 million in all fines that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration hands out each year.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2026
Boston Public Health Commissioner Bisola Ojikutu revealed in September that the city hands out more than 80,000 needles per month to drug users.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Though there were reports that Cassidy and Payne had split in May of the following year, the couple dispelled rumors the next month when they were spotted holding hands out on a date night in London.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
The state hands out the money based on student attendance.
—Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman, 10 Sep. 2025
But Liam is with her when their family hands out enchiladas and care packages to the homeless — something Liam always asked to do with his McDonald’s Happy Meals.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hands out
Verb
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Jerry Nowicki is the editor-in-chief of Capitol News Illinois, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide.—
Jerry Nowicki,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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The treasurer’s office collects tax dollars, tells the auditor’s office what was collected, and then the auditor distributes the funds to the governmental units, Petalas said.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Black folks have seen the face of the US’s prerogative state—the side of the government that dispenses arbitrary jurisprudence, discriminatory law enforcement, and violence against those who challenge its authority and dominant ideologies.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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McKellen lands every snippy bon mot and backhanded compliment that Julian doles out, but Coel makes every crack in Lori’s facade really count, as the mystery behind her commitment to Julian unfurls.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
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Aziza Scott is a hoot as Anna’s pregnant best friend/real-talk Greek chorus of sorts, and Coiro herself doles out zingers as a random tourist on a bus.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hameed provides the voice and remote puppetry, while Shah inhabits the bear costume onstage.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation offers a Free Snack Program that provides nutritious meals for youths — newborns to 18-year-olds — at its public parks.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Season 3 President Reagan and Soviet Premier Andropov sign lunar peace treaty which essentially divides the Moon between them.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
17 Apr. 2026
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Beverage director Jax Donahue divides the cocktail menu between classics and two rotating destinations (recently from San Francisco to Mexico City).—
Chris Malloy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Then, using a scoring system the county selects projects and allocates funds.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
15 Apr. 2026
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The auction allocates securities based on the bids submitted, with primary dealers often purchasing a significant share and then distributing those securities in the secondary market.—
Colin Dodds,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In fifth is another Taiwanese brand, Askey, which is owned by Asus and supplies Wi-Fi routers to Charter, another popular US ISP.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
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The company supplies automotive electronics, medical devices, industrial equipment and data center infrastructure to every major technology firm around the world.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hands out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hands%20out. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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