handout

1 of 2

noun

hand·​out ˈhand-ˌau̇t 

1

: a portion of food, clothing, or money given to or as if to a beggar

2

: a folder or circular of information for free distribution

3

: a prepared statement released to the news media

hand out

2 of 2

verb

handed out; handing out; hands out

transitive verb

1

a

: to give without charge

b

: to give freely

2

: administer

handed out a severe punishment

Synonyms

Verb

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

Examples of handout in a Sentence

Noun

He sat on the sidewalk asking for a handout.

The family wasn't interested in government handouts.

The handouts had all the major points of his speech outlined on them.

Verb

no system yet in place for handing out room assignments

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As fewer patients pay their bills, hospitals also face long-term revenue risks, prompting them to seek further government handouts. —Ge Bai, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Among the handouts was a bookmark with an illustration of a voting booth and two children outside. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024

Verb

While this was going on, Harris’s campaign was handing out six-figure donations to groups that support defunding the police and reparation payments to blacks to apologize for slavery. —Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024

On Halloween night, King hands out candy to trick-or-treaters at their office while Carpenter stays home to watch sports or play video games. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

handout

noun

hand·​out ˈhan-ˌdau̇t 

1

: food, clothing, or money given to a beggar

2

: an information sheet for free distribution

3

: a prepared statement released to the press