distribute

[ dih-strib-yoot ]

verb (used with object)

distributed, distributing.

1. to divide and give out in shares; deal out; allot.

   Synonyms: apportion, mete, assign

2. to disperse through a space or over an area; spread; scatter.
3. to promote, sell, and ship or deliver (an item or line of merchandise) to individual customers, especially in a specified region or area.
4. to pass out or deliver (mail, newspapers, etc.) to intended recipients.
5. to divide into distinct phases:

   The process was distributed into three stages.

6. to divide into classes:

   These plants are distributed into 22 classes.

   Synonyms: categorize, arrange, sort, classify

7. Logic. to employ (a term) in a proposition so as to refer to all individuals denoted by the term.
8. Physical Chemistry. to dissolve uniformly in a solvent consisting of layers of immiscible or partially miscible substances.
9. Printing.
   1. to roll out (ink) on the table to attain the proper consistency.
   2. to return (type) to the proper place after printing.

distribute

/ dɪˈstrɪbjuːt /

verb

1. to give out in shares; dispense
2. to hand out or deliver

   to distribute handbills

3. often passive to spread throughout a space or area

   gulls are distributed along the west coast

4. often passive to divide into classes or categories; classify

   these books are distributed in four main categories

5. printing to return (used type) to the correct positions in the type case
6. logic to incorporate in a distributed term of a categorial proposition
7. maths logic to expand an expression containing two operators in such a way that the precedence of the operators is changed; for example, distributing multiplication over addition in a ( b + c ) yields ab + ac
8. obsolete.
   to dispense (justice)

Derived Forms

• disˈtributable, adjective

Other Word Forms

• dis·trib·ut·a·ble adjective
• pre·dis·trib·ute verb (used with object) predistributed predistributing

Word History and Origins

Origin of distribute¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin distribūtus, past participle of distribuere “to divide up”; dis- ¹, tribute

Word History and Origins

Origin of distribute¹

C15: from Latin distribuere from dis- ¹+ tribuere to give

Synonym Study

Distribute, dispense apply to giving out something. Distribute implies apportioned, individualized giving, especially of something that is definite or limited in amount or number: The prizes were distributed among ten winners. Dispense formerly implied indiscriminate, general, and liberal giving, especially of something that was more or less indefinite or unmeasured in amount: to dispense largesse. It now applies chiefly to giving according to need or deserts, from an organized and official source: to dispense medicines and food to the victims.

Example Sentences

The Los Angeles judge had ruled that Sony didn’t need to provide additional episodes of the shows to CBS so it could distribute them to television stations around the country.

From Los Angeles Times

But because the movie stars one of your favorite actors, and because it’s distributed by one of the hottest, trendiest distribution companies, you choose to see it anyway.

From Salon

Meiser was already facing charges in Los Angeles County Superior Court that he conspired with gang members to distribute heroin within the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic.

From Los Angeles Times

The animals were smuggled into the EU through Poland's border with Belarus and then distributed with false documents, they added.

From BBC

The organisation collects and sorts items donated by the community before distributing them.

From BBC

Related Words

• administer
• allot
• apportion
• assign
• circulate
• disburse
• dispense
• disseminate
• donate
• give
• give away
• hand out
• issue
• present
• scatter
• share