distribute
Americanverb (used with object)
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distributes,
present (3rd person singular)
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distributed,
past participle, past
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distributing
present participle
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to divide and give out in shares; deal out; allot.
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to disperse through a space or over an area; spread; scatter.
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to promote, sell, and ship or deliver (an item or line of merchandise) to individual customers, especially in a specified region or area.
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to pass out or deliver (mail, newspapers, etc.) to intended recipients.
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to divide into distinct phases.
The process was distributed into three stages.
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to divide into classes.
These plants are distributed into 22 classes.
- Synonyms:
- categorize, arrange, sort, classify
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Logic. to employ (a term) in a proposition so as to refer to all individuals denoted by the term.
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Physical Chemistry. to dissolve uniformly in a solvent consisting of layers of immiscible or partially miscible substances.
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Printing.
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to roll out (ink) on the table to attain the proper consistency.
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to return (type) to the proper place after printing.
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verb
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to give out in shares; dispense
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to hand out or deliver
to distribute handbills
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(often passive) to spread throughout a space or area
gulls are distributed along the west coast
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(often passive) to divide into classes or categories; classify
these books are distributed in four main categories
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printing to return (used type) to the correct positions in the type case
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logic to incorporate in a distributed term of a categorial proposition
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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
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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
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distributesimple
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distributessimple
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have distributedperfect
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has distributedperfect
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am distributingprogressive
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are distributingprogressive
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is distributingprogressive
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have been distributingperfect progressive
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has been distributingperfect progressive
Past
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distributedsimple
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had distributedperfect
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was distributingprogressive
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were distributingprogressive
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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
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Workshop 1, Part 1
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Essential English Vocabulary, List 6
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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:
The Oaktree deal puts much tighter strings on what UWM can distribute to its majority owner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
Though Stuart suggests it’s still a “volume business” for producers, he believes it’s a win for the platforms that distribute these docs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
"Rather than centralizing superintelligence, we should distribute it widely and give every person the ability to direct it," Zuckerberg said in his essay.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
However, the maize proved difficult to mill and distribute.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
The experiments use video game technology to challenge people to distribute attention, then use imaging to measure brain activity during the task.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
The contractor operated a Maryland data center that stored public-company data that the SEC distributes for investors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Soccer takes a 20% cut, and then distributes all World Cup prize money equally among 52 players — 26 players on the roster of each team.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
Roku is an attractive asset because its smart TV platform distributes streaming services to more than 100 million households.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
The stuntmen are presumably here because their parent company, Thrill Sports, also distributes Power Slap, Dana White’s passion project.
From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2026
A second representative distributes uniforms: white shirts, white shorts, white socks.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Each quark therefore carries plus one third of the baryon number, much as the proton's electric charge is distributed among its three valence quarks.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
The bizarre geography lesson appeared in student agendas distributed at Farnsley Middle School, part of Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
The organizing committee is obligated to create a $270-million contingency fund that can be distributed as a surplus if the Games make money or cover any losses in the event of a shortfall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
She contrasted it with the 1999 eclipse, when more than 30 million approved glasses were distributed nationwide.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
“Even before the hurricane, Brother’s Keeper collected donations and distributed food and clothing and other necessities to the folks in our community who needed them most.”
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
They contend the costs and energy demands of producing and distributing it make it inferior to batteries in almost every case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
Reforms made over the last two years mean that companies listing in London can offer fewer shares for sale, spend less on distributing company information to analysts, and face fewer hurdles in acquiring other companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
And it would work with partners to "propose a new way of distributing resources through the existing Fifa Forward programme"
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
It’s more probable that the financial-services company is looking for confirmation that she has died so they can begin administering her account and, if appropriate, distributing any assets to the rightful beneficiaries or heirs.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 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.
