verb

dispense

dih-SPEHNS

verb

To give out or distribute something, especially in measured amounts.

"The machine dispenses hot drinks at the push of a button."

"Pharmacists dispense medication according to a doctor's prescription."

To do without something, or get rid of the need for it (used with 'with').

"Let's dispense with the formalities and get straight to business."

How to Use Dispense

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo hand something out, or (with "with") to skip something unnecessary.

Common mistake

"Dispense with" means to do away with something, not to give it out — the opposite of the plain sense of "dispense."

Common pairings

dispense advice dispense with formalities dispense medication

dispensed past tense, dispenses plural, dispenses singular

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The machine _____ hot drinks at the push of a button.

From Old French dispenser, from Latin dispensare, "to weigh out, distribute, manage" — from dis- ("apart") + pendere ("to weigh").

tense sense dense incense immense offense intense license expense defense nonsense condense