Meaning & use
dole out
To distribute something, especially in careful or limited portions.
See it in a sentence
Volunteers doled out hot meals to everyone waiting in the long line.
The coach doled out praise sparingly, so his compliments meant a great deal.
A note on using this word
Dole out often implies a stingy or careful distribution, unlike the neutral verb distribute.
Words with a similar meaning
distributeallot
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
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