distribute

[ dih-strib-yoot ]

verb (used with object)

, dis·trib·ut·ed, dis·trib·ut·ing.

1. to divide and give out in shares; deal out; allot.

   Synonyms: apportion, mete, assign

2. to disperse through a space or over an area; spread; scatter.
3. to promote, sell, and ship or deliver (an item or line of merchandise) to individual customers, especially in a specified region or area.
4. to pass out or deliver (mail, newspapers, etc.) to intended recipients.
5. to divide into distinct phases:

   The process was distributed into three stages.

6. to divide into classes:

   These plants are distributed into 22 classes.

   Synonyms: categorize, arrange, sort, classify

7. Logic. to employ (a term) in a proposition so as to refer to all individuals denoted by the term.
8. Physical Chemistry. to dissolve uniformly in a solvent consisting of layers of immiscible or partially miscible substances.
9. Printing.
   1. to roll out (ink) on the table to attain the proper consistency.
   2. to return (type) to the proper place after printing.

distribute

/ dɪˈstrɪbjuːt /

verb

1. to give out in shares; dispense
2. to hand out or deliver

   to distribute handbills

3. often passive to spread throughout a space or area

   gulls are distributed along the west coast

4. often passive to divide into classes or categories; classify

   these books are distributed in four main categories

5. printing to return (used type) to the correct positions in the type case
6. logic to incorporate in a distributed term of a categorial proposition
7. maths logic to expand an expression containing two operators in such a way that the precedence of the operators is changed; for example, distributing multiplication over addition in a ( b + c ) yields ab + ac
8. obsolete.
   to dispense (justice)

Derived Forms

• disˈtributable, adjective

Other Words From

• dis·trib·ut·a·ble adjective
• pre·dis·trib·ute verb (used with object) predistributed predistributing

Word History and Origins

Origin of distribute¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin distribūtus, past participle of distribuere “to divide up”; dis- ¹, tribute

Word History and Origins

Origin of distribute¹

C15: from Latin distribuere from dis- ¹+ tribuere to give

Synonym Study

Distribute, dispense apply to giving out something. Distribute implies apportioned, individualized giving, especially of something that is definite or limited in amount or number: The prizes were distributed among ten winners. Dispense formerly implied indiscriminate, general, and liberal giving, especially of something that was more or less indefinite or unmeasured in amount: to dispense largesse. It now applies chiefly to giving according to need or deserts, from an organized and official source: to dispense medicines and food to the victims.

Example Sentences

Biden also called for any potential vaccine to be equitably distributed.

From Washington Post

Today, StarTech’s being managed a lot more conservatively than in 2015, as shown by the share of earnings it’s distributing instead of re-investing.

From Fortune

This lightweight vest is made from comfy neoprene material and has an ergonomic design, so the weights are distributed equally.

From Popular-Science

States and local communities will need to devise precise plans for receiving and locally distributing vaccines, some of which will require special handling such as refrigeration or freezing.

From Fortune

“Claims of having a vaccine ready to distribute before you do testing, I think, is problematic, at best,” Fauci said.

From Fortune

Surenos are told when to workout, who to associate with and how to distribute any funds they make from illegal activity.

From The Daily Beast

Pinch it with your fingers until it makes large crumbles and distribute it on the berries (it will not cover them entirely).

From The Daily Beast

To be sure, it had plenty of big newspaper plants, but could we bring our papers back to Baltimore in time to distribute them?

From The Daily Beast

Rather than focus on building large centralized plants, why not distribute solar power across a bunch of rooftops?

From The Daily Beast

He blanched when it came time to plunge, invest the money, press, and distribute.

From The Daily Beast

In the time when thou shalt end the days of thy life, and in the time of thy decease, distribute thy inheritance.

From Project Gutenberg

To the greatest extent of the capacities of all, it is dutiful for them to obtain and distribute copies of the blessed word.

From Project Gutenberg

It would endanger me to distribute such a fiery appeal, my friend remonstrated.

From Project Gutenberg

You would like us to print the Testament of Jean Meslier and distribute four or five thousand copies.

From Project Gutenberg

Even we publishers have our ideals—and our purest is to distribute through the world the works of a man of genius.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• administer
• allot
• apportion
• assign
• circulate
• disburse
• dispense
• disseminate
• donate
• give
• give away
• hand out
• issue
• present
• scatter
• share