dole
1a portion or allotment of money, food, etc., especially as given at regular intervals by a charity or for maintenance.
a dealing out or distributing, especially in charity.
a form of payment to the unemployed instituted by the British government in 1918.
any similar payment by a government to an unemployed person.
Archaic. one's fate or destiny.
to distribute in charity.
to give out sparingly or in small quantities (usually followed by out): The last of the water was doled out to the thirsty crew.
Idioms about dole
on the dole, receiving payment from the government, as relief: They couldn't afford any luxuries while living on the dole.
Origin of dole
1Other words for dole
Other definitions for dole (2 of 3)
grief or sorrow; lamentation.
Origin of dole
2Other definitions for Dole (3 of 3)
Robert J(oseph), 1923–2021, U.S. politician: senator 1969–96.
Sanford Ballard, 1844–1926, U.S. politician and jurist in Hawaii: president of Republic of Hawaii 1894–98; first territorial governor 1900–03.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use dole in a sentence
Last year, a 5-year-old texted the crisis hotline, dole said, declining to discuss the case.
How mental-health crisis centers have tried to weather the COVID-19 storm | Jonathan Vanian | February 5, 2021 | FortunePatients owe a debt of gratitude to senators Bayh and dole, who recognized that empowering private drug companies to turn government-sponsored research into usable medicines and treatments is not a partisan issue.
There was real joy on his face doling out the cigars and giving some to his wife to pass out from the box.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind | Brin-Jonathan Butler | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTUber responded to the PR nightmare by reversing the surge, refunding those affected, and doling out free rides.
In Defense of Uber’s Awful Sydney Surge Pricing | Olivia Nuzzi | December 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAs a rule, I am chary about doling out diagnoses unless there is a clear indication to do so.
I like to imagine you in Friday Night Lights in the huddle doling out orders to everybody.
Michael B. Jordan: Playing a Black Superhero in 'Fantastic Four' Is a 'Huge Responsibility' | Kevin Fallon | September 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTToday there are a plethora of adult agents doling out advice to new girls, some of them former performers themselves.
How a Porn Star Retires: Aurora Snow on Life After Porn | Aurora Snow | June 18, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTIt is always done in the dark, and the corporal stands at the pot doling out chunks.
In the Ranks of the C.I.V. | Erskine ChildersIn the study a half hour later Mr. Spence, watch in hand, was doling out his minutes again.
Tales Of Men And Ghosts | Edith WhartonShe becomes miserly only when doling out the organs and instruments of labour.
The Life of the Bee | Maurice MaeterlinckThis doling of plans and plot to him seemed to be a reflection on his intelligence.
The Skipper and the Skipped | Holman DayThat "nothing to do" was an odd change, in itself, for Audrey had been in the habit of doling out her time like sweetmeats.
Dangerous Days | Mary Roberts Rinehart
British Dictionary definitions for dole (1 of 2)
/ (dəʊl) /
a small portion or share, as of money or food, given to a poor person
the act of giving or distributing such portions
the dole British informal money received from the state while out of work
on the dole British informal receiving such money
archaic fate
(tr usually foll by out) to distribute, esp in small portions
Origin of dole
1British Dictionary definitions for dole (2 of 2)
/ (dəʊl) /
archaic grief or mourning
Origin of dole
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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