verb
mete
meet
Mete (verb) means to mete out: to deal out or distribute something, especially punishment or reward. Example: “The judge meted out a harsh sentence for the crime.”
verb
1
To mete out: to deal out or distribute something, especially punishment or reward.
"The judge meted out a harsh sentence for the crime."
"Rewards were meted out fairly among the team members."
"Every generation metes out substantially the same punishment to those who fall far below and those who rise high above its standards."
— Kirby Page, Jesus Or Christianity A Study In Contrasts (1929)
How to use mete
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hand out or distribute something, almost always used in the phrase "mete out" and almost always about punishment.
Common mistake
Almost always used as "mete out" — it’s rarely used on its own in modern English.
Common pairings
mete out punishment
mete out justice
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Word forms
- Plural
- metes
- Third person singular
- metes
- Past tense
- meted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The judge _____ out a harsh sentence for the crime.
Etymology
From Old English metan ("to measure, mark off"), related to modern German messen ("to measure").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for mete
See all rhymes for mete →Frequently asked questions
What does “mete” mean?
The word “mete” means to mete out: to deal out or distribute something, especially punishment or reward. In plain terms, to hand out or distribute something, almost always used in the phrase "mete out" and almost always about punishment.
How do you pronounce “mete”?
“Mete” is pronounced meet (/miːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “mete” in a sentence?
Here is “mete” used in a sentence: “The judge meted out a harsh sentence for the crime.”
What part of speech is “mete”?
“Mete” is a verb.
Where does the word “mete” come from?
The word “mete” comes from Old English. From Old English metan ("to measure, mark off"), related to modern German messen ("to measure").
