verb

distribute

dih-STRIHB-yoot

verb

To divide something up and hand it out to a number of people or places.

"Volunteers distributed food to families after the storm."

"The company distributes its products to stores across the country."

How to Use Distribute

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo spread something out or hand it out among a group.

Common pairings

distribute food distribute evenly widely distributed

Word Forms

distributed past tense, distribute plural, distributed plural, distributes singular, distribute singular, distributed singular, distributest singular, distributedst singular, distributeth singular

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Volunteers _____ food to families after the storm.

Etymology

From Latin distribuere, "to divide out," combining dis- ("apart") with tribuere ("to give" or "grant") — the same root as tribute.

Synonyms

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dispend parcel out sparble strew sort administer allocate apportion deal deal out dispart dispense

Antonyms

amass concentrate consolidate gather reassemble

Related Words

deal accumulate kind handle group collect class type

Rhymes for distribute

ute cute mute lute flute acute haute brute chute route minute refute

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