mete
1 Americanverb
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mete1
before 900; Middle English; Old English metan; cognate with Dutch meten, Old Norse meta, Gothic mitan, German messen to measure, Greek mḗdesthai to ponder
Origin of mete2
1275–1325; Middle English < Middle French < Latin mēta goal, turning post
Explanation
If you "mete out" something (the word is usually followed by "out"), it means you dish it out in very careful measured amounts. Anyone who metes out their love probably isn't someone you want to have a relationship with. Another word often used interchangeably with mete is dole, though there are slight differences in meaning: dole suggests a more lavish, unthinking form of activity than the more stingy and controlled mete, and while some nice things (like compassion or love) can be "doled out," it's very rare that anything pleasant or happy is "meted out."
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:
Had Steinbrenner “violated ‘the best interests of baseball’ rule, which gives the commissioner broad authority to mete out punishment?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
California receives the vast bulk of its rain and snow between December and March, trapping the runoff in its reservoirs to mete out during the hot, dry seasons that follow.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 2025
Of course, she already knew much about oppression from Miss Asthma, a crone quick to mete out punishments like “one long supperless week” when Annie sticks up for herself.
From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2024
They started to mete out desegregation orders with teeth, requiring busing if necessary.
From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024
During one of my last visits to the reservation, in June 2015, I went to the Osage Nation Court, where, in many criminal cases, the Osage now mete out their own justice.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
He’s hardly able to parry the upbraiding meted out by Mr. Giamatti’s Jean, fastidiously dressed and radiating pompous self-satisfaction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Filmmaking has not been exempt from the disruption meted out onto the creative industries by AI's rapid development in recent years.
From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026
"Work will continue to ensure there is clear deterrents in terms of the punishments meted out by the law," he said.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
"Raging" Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson has vowed to "make changes" for the final few matches of the Scottish Premiership season after Hibernian meted out a record-breaking fifth consecutive defeat at Ibrox.
From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2025
And what he had already meted out to Lovey, if he was not waiting on a reunion of the three runaways.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
In 2025, the university’s annual safety report noted 29 hazing reports on campus, at frats as well as other student groups, with Cornell meting out violations to 11 organizations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Such changes would go hand in hand with an overhaul of the department’s much-maligned disciplinary system, which has faced criticism from some corners for not meting out harsh enough punishments when officers shoot unarmed people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026
Shew said he and other election officials will focus on meting out the state’s voting laws fairly and helping make sure the public understands them.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 3, 2024
But Mr. Ruto also stoked popular anger by meting out harsh economic medicine to his own supporters and adopting an uncompromising stance toward critics.
From New York Times ● Jul. 20, 2023
Not every modern story-teller is so scrupulous, in meting out justice to ethical violation.
From Homer's Odyssey A Commentary by Denton Jaques Snider
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
