dole out

verb

doled out; doling out; doles out

transitive verb

1

: to give or deliver in small portions

2

: dish out

Synonyms

• administer
• allocate
• apportion
• deal (out)
• dispense
• distribute
• hand out
• mete (out)
• parcel (out)
• portion
• prorate

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

The festival offers hot slaw makers, both amateur and professional, the chance to face off in competition, as judges dip Ruffles potato chips and dole out bragging rights from outside the Bradley County Courthouse. —Emily Cochrane Audra Melton, New York Times, 18 May 2024

Michelin, the restaurant guide that doles out stars each year to arguably the world’s best restaurants, added five new additions to its recommendations today, May 7, including one in Orange County. —Brock Keeling, Orange County Register, 7 May 2024

Over the last fiscal year, Apple doled out $78 billion on stock buybacks, reducing its number of outstanding shares by about 2%. —Laura Bratton, Quartz, 1 May 2024

But whatever the case, the attraction was more than sufficient for Martha Stewart and her daughter Alexis to dole out $12.3 million for a chic residence tucked away in The Belnord, aka The Arconia from Only Murders in the Building. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 8 May 2024

Tacos El Gordo, which doles out wallet-friendly tacos, quesadillas, tostadas, and other Mexican favorites, is among our favorites, as is the Instagram-worthy Cafe Lola, which dishes out sweet and savory breakfast and lunch staples (think crème brûlée challah French toast). —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2024

The company has spent the most of any tech company on stock repurchases over the last decade, doling out $650 billion since 2012. —Laura Bratton, Quartz, 2 May 2024

Many schools that tolerated protests and other disruptions for months are now doling out more heavy-handed discipline. —Jocelyn Gecker and Steve Leblanc, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Apr. 2024

On Valentine’s Day, the carrier doled out $1.4 billion to its workers, a bonus check that worked out to 10.4% of their annual salary. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1