dole out

verb

doled out; doling out; doles out
Synonyms of dole outnext

transitive verb

1
: to give or deliver in small portions
2
: dish out

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for dole out

distribute, dispense, divide, deal, dole out mean to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group.

distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts.

distributed food to the needy

dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need.

dispensed wisdom to the students

divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal.

three charitable groups divided the proceeds

deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece.

deal out equipment and supplies

dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply.

doled out what little food there was

Examples of dole out in a Sentence

she doles out office supplies as if she were paying for them out of her own pocket
Recent Examples on the Web Loading your audio article At the end of almost any show these days, theater audiences rise for an obligatory standing ovation as if the doorbell just rang and the last Halloween candy needs doling out. —Christopher Smith, Orange County Register, 30 May 2024 However, Uber will dole out promotions for those traveling from popular locations such as airports and train stations. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 29 May 2024 Per media reports, the SEC just doled out $51 million to each member. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 24 May 2024 The discoveries shed light on draconian punishments doled out thousands of years ago, according to a study published on March 16 in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 21 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for dole out 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dole out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dole out was in 1749

Dictionary Entries Near dole out

dolentissimo

dole out

dolerite

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Dole out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dole%20out. Accessed 5 Jun. 2024.

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Nglish: Translation of dole out for Spanish Speakers

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