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

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."

How to use mete

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word forms

meted past tense, metes plural, metes singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “mete” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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").

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for mete

fete Pete Crete delete secrete athlete compete machete concrete complete obsolete discrete

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").