dispense

American  

[dih-spens] / dɪˈspɛns /

verb (used with object)

dispensed, dispensing

1. to deal out; distribute.

   to dispense wisdom.

   Synonyms:

   dole , allot , apportion

2. to administer.

   to dispense the law without bias.

3. Pharmacology.  to make up and distribute (medicine), especially on prescription.

4. Roman Catholic Church.  to grant dispensation.

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verb (used without object)

dispensed, dispensing

1. to grant dispensation.

noun

1. Obsolete.  expenditure.

verb phrase

1. dispense with

   1. to do without; forgo.

      to dispense with preliminaries.

   2. to do away with; rid of.

   3. to grant exemption from a law or promise.

dispense British  

/ dɪˈspɛns /

verb

1. (tr) to give out or issue in portions

2. (tr) to prepare and distribute (medicine), esp on prescription

3. (tr) to administer (the law, etc)

4. to do away (with) or manage (without)

5. to grant a dispensation to (someone) from (some obligation of church law)

6. to exempt or excuse from a rule or obligation

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Usage

Dispense with is sometimes wrongly used where dispose of is meant: this task can be disposed of (not dispensed with ) quickly and easily

Related Words

See distribute.

Other Word Forms

• undispensed adjective

Etymology

Origin of dispense

1275–1325; Middle English dispensen < Medieval Latin dispēnsāre to pardon, exempt, Latin: to pay out, distribute, equivalent to dis- dis- ¹ + pēnsāre, frequentative of pendere to weigh

Example Sentences

And Article 25 states "the relevant Fifa judicial body may scale down the disciplinary measure to be imposed or even dispense with it entirely".

From BBC

For preschool-age kids, the drugs are often dispensed against pediatric guidelines, which call first for behavioral therapy, a treatment that can be hard to get.

From The Wall Street Journal

Over the first 10 years, MBS dispensed “giga” projects involving large-scale developments to diversify the kingdom off oil as if he were Santa Claus.

From The Wall Street Journal

Customers are increasingly being lured by brands like TimberTech, which dispense with wood altogether in favor of polyvinyl chloride patterned to resemble mahogany, teak, or hickory.

From Barron's

It's one thing to dispense advice, but quite another to follow it, as Burns discovers on a suite of ballads about a disruptive break-up.

From BBC

Related Words

• allocate
• allot
• disburse
• distribute
• furnish
• give away
• hand out