redistribute

verb

re·​dis·​trib·​ute ˌrē-də-ˈstri-ˌbyüt 

 also  -byət

redistributed; redistributing; redistributes

transitive verb

1

: to alter the distribution of : reallocate

2

: to spread to other areas

redistribution

(ˌ)rē-ˌdi-strə-ˈbyü-shən 

noun

redistributional

(ˌ)rē-ˌdi-strə-ˈbyü-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

redistributive

ˌrē-də-ˈstri-byü-tiv 

-byə-

adjective

Examples of redistribute in a Sentence

Unused federal funds will be redistributed to other states.

The government redistributed the land to the settlers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. —Lena Miano, arkansasonline.com, 14 Mar. 2025

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. —Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025

Closing the department would mean redistributing each of those duties to another agency. —Annie Ma and Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025

The 99-page bill slightly decreases spending overall from last year’s funding levels, but redistributes the cash by increasing spending for the military by about $6 billion while reducing domestic spending by $13 billion. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for redistribute

• contribute
• distribute
• tribute

Kids Definition

redistribute

verb

re·​dis·​trib·​ute ˌrē-də-ˈstrib-yət 

1

: to change the distribution of

2

: to spread to other areas

redistribution

-ˌdis-trə-ˈbyü-shən 

noun