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
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
Volunteers with the Havre de Grace Youth Commission hands out free backpacks filled with school supplies during the Refuel for School Youth Festival organized by the commission, in Havre de Grace on Saturday, August 16.
—Brian T. Krista, Baltimore Sun, 17 Aug. 2025
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
Volunteers with the Havre de Grace Youth Commission hands out free backpacks filled with school supplies during the Refuel for School Youth Festival organized by the commission, in Havre de Grace on Saturday, August 16.
—Brian T. Krista, Baltimore Sun, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hands out
Verb
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Royal Cup manufactures and distributes coffee and tea, and got an investment from Braemont Capital at the end of last year.—
Brian Womack,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Another $4 million will go toward a program that distributes air purifiers capable of filtering hydrogen sulfide and other pollutants from the toxic cross-border flows.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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Of course, the real issue isn’t advice itself, but rather the wisdom of whomever dispenses it—and finding them in the first place is harder to admitting someone else’s opinion just may be savvier than your own.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Through a combination of buttery-smooth fabric, mighty arch support, impact-absorbing memory foam, and the kind of curved, rocker-like outsole that doles out both traction and momentum on any surface.—
Rudolf Obias,
Footwear News,
3 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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Or, this versatile, lightweight neck pillow from Trtl is much less bulky than your average option but still provides support by keeping your neck upright while padding it.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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Bluehost provides a more streamlined, beginner-friendly experience owing to its Wondersuite website creation tools.—
Gabriel Zamora,
PC Magazine,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The county also divides properties into appraisal neighborhoods, which may not match how homeowners think about their communities.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
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The food and drink Culinary offerings track the seasons through the ancient Japanese calendar, which divides the year into 72 micro-seasons.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Congress is meant to approve an annual authorization bill to set NASA’s priorities and an appropriations bill that allocates money, but the former is often neglected; the most recent finalized NASA authorization bill dates to 2022.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
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While this program allocates $50 billion to rural health over five years, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which created the program, will result in $58 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade.—
Daniel Torrent,
STAT,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Fish emulsion supplies essential nutrients and supports soil microbial health, while liquid seaweed adds trace elements and growth hormones that enhance plant resilience and reduce drought stress.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
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The Biden administration declassified intelligence findings that showed Iran supplies Moscow with attack drones and has assisted the Kremlin with building a drone-manufacturing factory.—
Seung Min Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hands out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hands%20out. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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