distribute
Americanverb (used with object)
-
distributes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
distributed,
past participle, past
-
distributing
present participle
-
to divide and give out in shares; deal out; allot.
-
to disperse through a space or over an area; spread; scatter.
-
to promote, sell, and ship or deliver (an item or line of merchandise) to individual customers, especially in a specified region or area.
-
to pass out or deliver (mail, newspapers, etc.) to intended recipients.
-
to divide into distinct phases.
The process was distributed into three stages.
-
to divide into classes.
These plants are distributed into 22 classes.
- Synonyms:
- categorize, arrange, sort, classify
-
Logic. to employ (a term) in a proposition so as to refer to all individuals denoted by the term.
-
Physical Chemistry. to dissolve uniformly in a solvent consisting of layers of immiscible or partially miscible substances.
-
Printing.
-
to roll out (ink) on the table to attain the proper consistency.
-
to return (type) to the proper place after printing.
-
verb
-
to give out in shares; dispense
-
to hand out or deliver
to distribute handbills
-
(often passive) to spread throughout a space or area
gulls are distributed along the west coast
-
(often passive) to divide into classes or categories; classify
these books are distributed in four main categories
-
printing to return (used type) to the correct positions in the type case
-
logic to incorporate in a distributed term of a categorial proposition
-
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
-
obsolete to dispense (justice)
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
distributesimple
-
distributessimple
-
have distributedperfect
-
has distributedperfect
-
am distributingprogressive
-
are distributingprogressive
-
is distributingprogressive
-
have been distributingperfect progressive
-
has been distributingperfect progressive
Past
-
distributedsimple
-
had distributedperfect
-
was distributingprogressive
-
were distributingprogressive
-
had been distributingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of distribute
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin distribūtus, past participle of distribuere “to divide up”; see dis- 1, tribute
Explanation
To distribute is to disperse widely, hand out, or spread around. While you're still snoozing, the paper boy is busy distributing the newspaper all over the neighborhood. This verb was first recorded in the early 15th century and has its roots in the Latin distributus, meaning “to divide.” Think of dividing up the last cookies in the cookie jar and passing them out to all your friends. Distribute can also mean to space out or arrange in a particular order — you'd want to distribute the chairs in even lines across the floor when setting up for a concert, for example.
Vocabulary lists containing distribute
Charlotte's Web
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Workshop 1, Part 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Essential English Vocabulary, List 6
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In March 2025, both companies signed agreements with SpaceX to distribute Starlink equipment and services in India, subject to government approval.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
Samsung averted a strike in South Korea earlier this year by agreeing to a deal to distribute bonuses equivalent to 10.5 percent of operating profit to its semiconductor employees.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
Oh distinguished Dunamu’s planned role in stablecoins from issuing them itself: “Digital-asset exchanges distribute them; they are not the issuers,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
She even made sure to itemize possessions in her will and distribute them to friends and/or family.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 27, 2026
“A polar bear’s wide paws distribute its weight as it walks.”
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
Once in the U.S., an associate then distributes the packages inside the carton.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
But he is also outstanding with the ball because he distributes it quickly and always chooses the right route.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Girard eventually connected with Jim Law, and together they co-founded Advanced Biotechnologies, the company that manufactures and distributes the BioCharger.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
The company also distributes liquified-petroleum products in Europe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Rather than use logos—detailed arguments and eye-glazing statistics about the ways in which the charity achieves the greatest good, distributes its funds, and so on—the ad shoots straight for the heart.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
One challenge with this method is that the laser tracking stations are not evenly distributed around the globe.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026
He says Rainmaker releases this form of silver at 20 grams per flight, distributed across thousands of square kilometres.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Tock, an audio engineer and teacher, has distributed flyers and talked to tenants about organizing.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
But they said it was relatively easy to keep communication going, partly because radios were more widely distributed across the unit than in the past.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
At dawn the next morning, Nina had found him assembling the cold weather gear Jesper and Inej had distributed.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
While food banks are under pressure a Trussell Trust report found that they had been distributing fewer parcels in 2025 than the peak seen in 2023.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
The $250 million that Airbnb is distributing will “get those deals over the finish line,” Hornung said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
“He’s not the JV kid who got pulled up to varsity. He’s the starter. He’s done a good job distributing the ball.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
The United Nations launched a "loss and damage" fund in 2025 to aid the impacts of climate change, though it has not yet begun distributing its limited cash.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
As Germany grew more desperate for manpower during the last months of war, the army offered Karl Schnibbe, who was jailed for distributing anti-Nazi leaflets, the opportunity to restore his honor by fighting for Germany.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
