dole

¹ American  

[dohl] / doʊl /

noun

1. a portion or allotment of money, food, etc., especially as given at regular intervals by a charity or for maintenance.

   Synonyms:

   pittance, share, alms

2. a dealing out or distributing, especially in charity.

3. a form of payment to the unemployed instituted by the British government in 1918.

4. any similar payment by a government to an unemployed person.

5. Archaic. one's fate or destiny.

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verb (used with object)

doled, doling

1. to distribute in charity.

2. to give out sparingly or in small quantities (usually followed byout ).

   The last of the water was doled out to the thirsty crew.

   Synonyms:

   ration, mete

idioms

1. on the dole, receiving payment from the government, as relief.

   They couldn't afford any luxuries while living on the dole.

dole ² American  

[dohl] / doʊl /

noun

Archaic.

1. grief or sorrow; lamentation.

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Dole ³ American  

[dohl] / doʊl /

noun

1. Robert J(oseph), 1923–2021, U.S. politician: senator 1969–96.

2. Sanford Ballard, 1844–1926, U.S. politician and jurist in Hawaii: president of Republic of Hawaii 1894–98; first territorial governor 1900–03.

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dole ¹ British  

/ dəʊl /

noun

1. a small portion or share, as of money or food, given to a poor person

2. the act of giving or distributing such portions

3. informal money received from the state while out of work

4. informal receiving such money

5. archaic fate

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verb

1. to distribute, esp in small portions

dole ² British  

/ dəʊl /

noun

1. archaic grief or mourning

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Etymology

Origin of dole¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English dol, dal “part, subdivision,” Old English dāl, gedāl “sharing”; deal ¹

Origin of dole²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English dol, dol(e), doll from Old French duel, doel, from Late Latin dolus, for Latin dolor dolor

Explanation

Dole is a charitable donation or support, like the dole governments provide to victims of natural disasters. Dole is also a verb meaning "distribute," so you might dole out your leftover Halloween candy to your little sisters. In Britain, unemployment benefits and other government aid is commonly known as "the dole." In the U.S., the noun dole is rare, but when it's used it means "any charitable gift." When local businesses hold a toy drive during the winter holidays, those donations are dole given to needy families. As a verb, dole is most commonly used in the phrasal verb "dole out," although you'll sometimes see it used on its own.

Example Sentences

Bernstein models that CoreWeave will dole out $30 billion toward capital expenditures, resulting in $23 billion of negative free cash flow in 2026.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

Rea said he was on the dole at the time, his manager had just left him and he had been banned from driving.

From BBC • Dec. 22, 2025

My hope is there is an opportunity within the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act for a judicial council or a chief judge to dole out discipline as they deem fit.

From Slate • Dec. 11, 2025

Africa, which has been slower to develop internet infrastructure than the rest of the world, is the only region that still has some of the older addresses to dole out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

No, you’ll stay here and drink the dole when the humor is on you.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt