distribute

verb

di-ˈstri-byüt How to pronounce distribute (audio)
Definition of distributenext
1
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type distribute the assignments according to seniority

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to allot
to give as a share or portion committed to distributing the school's limited scholarship money so that it benefits more students

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dispense
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals distributed pamphlets on recycling to everyone in the neighborhood

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb distribute differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of distribute are deal, dispense, divide, and dole out. While all these words 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

When can deal be used instead of distribute?

While the synonyms deal and distribute are close in meaning, deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece.

deal out equipment and supplies

In what contexts can dispense take the place of distribute?

The synonyms dispense and distribute are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When is divide a more appropriate choice than distribute?

In some situations, the words divide and distribute are roughly equivalent. However, divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal.

three charitable groups divided the proceeds

When could dole out be used to replace distribute?

While in some cases nearly identical to distribute, dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply.

doled out what little food there was

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of distribute This account is based on interviews with 12 people with knowledge of developments at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is the federal agency that oversees all these international broadcasters and distributes money to them. —David Folkenflik, NPR, 10 Mar. 2025 The president himself is not responsible for distributing USAID funds. —Charles Wise, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025 In an Instagram post shared on Friday, March 7, the five-time Grammy winner called out music generated by artificial intelligence that allegedly uses her voice, claiming to be her, that has been distributed online. —Marina Watts, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025 Founded in 1988, Zeitgeist has distributed early films by such notable directors as Todd Haynes, Christopher Nolan, Francois Ozon, Olivier Assayas, Laura Poitras, Atom Egoyan and the Quay Brothers. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for distribute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distribute
  1. classify
  2. allot
  3. dispense
  4. rank
  5. assign
  6. provide
  7. distinguish
  8. allocate
Verb
  • Despite the depth and breadth of his transactions, Sweeney did not classify his work as a teardown.
    — Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Using data from nearly 10,000 herbarium specimens, scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have brought attention to the conservation status of these plants, revealing that 87 species—almost half of the genus—are now classified as threatened with extinction.
    — Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of classify
Verb
  • An eye poke late in the third round paused the contest for the full five minutes Cejudo was allotted to recover from the foul.
    — Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The exceptions were Kentucky and Vermont, which received around 3 percent of the seats in the House, and Maine, which had about 4 percent of the total after Congress allotted the new state seven of Massachusetts's previous 20 seats.
    — Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of allot
Verb
  • The oversized vending machine near the tournament entrance and at the store dispense the signature headband, branded by Lululemon, of course.
    — Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The lawsuit asks the court to outlaw the medication for anyone under 18, reinstate the in-person appointment requirement, mandate that only doctors can prescribe the pills and limit the ability of retail pharmacies, like CVS and Walgreens, to dispense the medication.
    — Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of dispense
Verb
  • Are you considered middle class in California? California ranked among the five priciest states in the nation for middle-class living in 2025, according to a recent analysis by personal finance site SmartAsset.
    — Kendrick Marshall, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The Billboard tally ranks the tunes that reach the largest audience via radio stations that focus on playing a more mature, adult style of pop music — hence the name.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of rank
Verb
  • McNulty was part of the agency's elite Public Health Associate Program, assigned to the Iowa Cancer Consortium, a small group working on statewide efforts to combat what is the country's second-highest cancer rate.
    — Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Robot vacuums with mopping features can easily transition between mopping and regular vacuuming based on the needs assigned by the user and tend to have a comparable cost to more traditional robot vacuums.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of assign
Verb
  • The upper stage ended up exploding over the Atlantic Ocean, providing a dramatic sky show for people in the Turks and Caicos Islands and nearby areas.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The Context Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week entered its fourth year, with the U.S. previously providing billions in military and humanitarian support.
    — Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of provide
Verb
  • The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, distinguished as the richest person in the world, has been especially controversial since Trump's inauguration.
    — Rachel Raposas, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The war in Gaza has resulted in more than 48,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
    — Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of distinguish
Verb
  • Of those, more than a third were allocated out of sequence, meaning they should have been offered to candidates higher on a waiting list.
    — Sam Allard, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
  • While side hustles are a major way children are saving up money, many are also allocating their allowances to their savings — especially when considering that 62 percent of 6-year-olds receive an allowance and 80 percent of children receive one by the age of 14.
    — Kanika Talwar, WWD, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of allocate

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“Distribute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distribute. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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