deal
DEEL
Deal (noun) means an agreement or arrangement between parties, especially a business one. Example: “They finally struck a deal after months of negotiation.”
noun
1
An agreement or arrangement between parties, especially a business one.
"They finally struck a deal after months of negotiation."
"It's a good deal — you get two for the price of one."
"The two companies signed a deal to share their delivery vans."
2
An indefinite but large amount (usually as "a great deal" or "a good deal").
"That took a great deal of effort."
"She has learned a good deal about gardening from her neighbour."
"The storm caused a great deal of damage to the old barn."
verb
1
To take action regarding something, or handle a situation.
"I'll deal with the complaint tomorrow morning."
"She dealt with the crisis calmly."
"Teachers must know how to deal with noisy classes without losing their patience."
2
To trade or do business, especially buying and selling.
"The shop deals in vintage furniture."
"He was arrested for dealing drugs."
"Our family has dealt in antique clocks for three generations."
3
To give out playing cards to players in a game.
"She shuffled the deck and dealt the cards."
"It's your turn to deal, so give everyone seven cards."
"The dealer dealt each player two cards face down."
How to use deal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn agreement or bargain, or the act of handling/distributing something (including cards).
Common mistake
"Deal with" (handle) and "deal in" (trade) change meaning with the preposition — don't drop it.
Common pairings
strike a deal
deal with a problem
deal cards
great deal of
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Word forms
- Plural
- deals
- Third person singular
- deals
- Past tense
- dealt, dealed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They finally struck a _____ after months of negotiation.
Etymology
From Old English dael, meaning "part" or "share", related to dole.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for deal
See all rhymes for deal →Frequently asked questions
What does “deal” mean?
The word “deal” means an agreement or arrangement between parties, especially a business one. In plain terms, an agreement or bargain, or the act of handling/distributing something (including cards).
How do you pronounce “deal”?
“Deal” is pronounced DEEL (/ˈdiːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “deal” in a sentence?
Here is “deal” used in a sentence: “They finally struck a deal after months of negotiation.”
What part of speech is “deal”?
Depending on how it is used, “deal” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “deal” come from?
The word “deal” comes from Old English. From Old English dael, meaning "part" or "share", related to dole.
Is “deal” a common word?
“Deal” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “deal” have?
“Deal” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an agreement or arrangement between parties, especially a business one.
What is the difference between a deal and a bargain?
A deal is any agreement or arrangement between parties, good or bad. A bargain is specifically a deal that offers good value — something bought for less than its worth. Every bargain is a deal, but not every deal is a bargain. 'A bargain' also stresses the buyer coming out ahead.
What is the difference between a deal and a contract?
A deal is a general agreement between parties and can be spoken or informal — 'we have a deal.' A contract is a deal put into legally binding form, usually written and enforceable in court. A contract is a formalised deal, while a handshake deal may exist without any contract at all.
What does it mean to close a deal?
To close a deal is to finalise it — to reach agreement so both sides are committed and the arrangement is settled. In sales and business it marks the point where negotiation ends and the transaction is confirmed. Closing signals success: the terms are accepted and the deal is done.
What are the different meanings of 'deal'?
As a noun, a deal is mainly an agreement between parties, especially in business. It also means an amount — 'a great deal of time.' As a verb, to deal is to hand out playing cards, to trade or sell, or to cope with something, as in 'deal with a problem.' Context makes the sense clear.
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