Standard Lemma guide

distribute

verb · 21 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /dɪˈstɹɪbjuːt/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈdɪstɹɪbjuːt/
  • General-American: dĭ-strĭbʹyo͞ot
  • General-American: /dɪˈstɹɪbjut/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪbjuːt
  • rhymes with -ɪstɹɪbjuːt
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 S T R IH1 B Y UW0 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To divide into portions and dispense.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • He distributed the bread amongst his followers.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To supply to retail outlets.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The agency distributes newspapers to local shops.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To deliver or pass out.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • A network of children distributes flyers to every house.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To scatter or spread.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • I raked the soil then distributed grass seed.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To apportion (more or less evenly).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The robot's six legs distributed its weight over a wide area.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To classify or separate into categories.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The database distributed verbs into transitive and intransitive segments.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To be distributive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Topics: mathematics, sciences

Examples

  • Multiplication distributes over addition.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To separate (type which has been used) and return it to the proper boxes in the cases.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: media, printing, publishing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To spread (ink) evenly, as upon a roller or a table.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: media, printing, publishing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal in one premise.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, logic, mathematics, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To have employees working remotely from multiple locations.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business

Examples

  • distributed business; distributed employee

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

cause to become widely known

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • spread information
  • circulate a rumor
  • broadcast the news

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: circulate, circularize, circularise, disseminate, propagate, broadcast, spread, diffuse, disperse, pass around

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: publicize, publicise, air, bare

Narrower terms: podcast, sow, popularize, popularise, vulgarize, vulgarise, generalize, generalise, carry, run

13

verb

Meaning 13

distribute or disperse widely

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The invaders spread their language all over the country

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: spread

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: generalize, generalise, metastasize, metastasise, discharge, strew, straw, export, propagate, deploy, redistribute, sprawl, straggle, diffuse, spread, spread out, fan out

14

verb

Meaning 14

to arrange in a systematic order

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • stagger the chairs in the lecture hall

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: stagger

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: arrange, set up

15

verb

Meaning 15

cause be distributed

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This letter is being circulated among the faculty

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: circulate, pass around, pass on

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: move, displace

Narrower terms: send around, utter, spread, scatter, spread out

16

verb

Meaning 16

give to several people

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The teacher handed out the exams

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: give out, hand out, pass out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: give, gift, present

Narrower terms: share, divvy up, portion out, apportion, deal

17

verb

Meaning 17

administer or bestow, as in small portions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • administer critical remarks to everyone present
  • dole out some money
  • shell out pocket money for the children
  • deal a blow to someone
  • the machine dispenses soft drinks

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: administer, mete out, deal, parcel out, lot, dispense, shell out, deal out, dish out, allot, dole out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: give

Narrower terms: assign, allot, portion, reallot, deal, give, apply

18

verb

Meaning 18

make available

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The publisher wants to distribute the book in Asia

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: transfer

Narrower terms: issue, supply, reticulate

19

verb

Meaning 19

be mathematically distributive

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: be

20

verb

Meaning 20

be distributed or spread, as in statistical analyses

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Values distribute

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: exist, be

21

verb

Meaning 21

spread throughout a given area

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the function distributes the values evenly

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: spread, scatter, spread out

History

Etymology

PIE word *tréyes From Latin distributus, past participle of distribuere (“to divide, distribute”), from dis- (“apart”) + tribuere (“to give, impart”); see tribute.

Across languages

Translations

150 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: وَزَّعَ (wazzaʕa) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Armenian: բաշխել (bašxel) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Assamese: বিলা (bila) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Assamese: ভগা (bhoga) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Assamese: বাট (bat) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Bangi: kabola — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Basque: banatu — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Bulgarian: разпределям (razpredeljam) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Catalan: repartir — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Catalan: distribuir — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Cherokee: ᎠᏯᏙᎯᎭ (ayadohiha) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Dutch: verdelen — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Esperanto: distribui — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Finnish: jakaa — to divide into portions and dispense
  • French: distribuer — to divide into portions and dispense
  • German: aufteilen — to divide into portions and dispense
  • German: verteilen — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Gothic: 𐌳𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (dailjan) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Gothic: 𐌲𐌰𐌼𐌹𐍄𐌰𐌽 (gamitan) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Ancient Greek: διανέμω (dianémō) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Hebrew: חילק (khilék) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Hungarian: szétoszt — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Icelandic: deila út — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Icelandic: útdeila — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Icelandic: úthluta — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Irish: scaoil — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Italian: distribuire — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Japanese: 分ける (wakeru) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Latin: distribuō — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Lingala: kabola — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Norwegian: fordele — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Occitan: distribuir — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Polish: rozdzielać — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Portuguese: distribuir — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Portuguese: parcelar — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Quechua: rakiy — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Romanian: distribui — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Romanian: împărți — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Romanian: repartiza — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Russian: распределя́ть (raspredeljátʹ) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Russian: распредели́ть (raspredelítʹ) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Sanskrit: भजति (bhajati) — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Spanish: distribuir — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Swahili: kugawanya — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Swedish: fördela — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Tagalog: ikalat — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Tagalog: kalatan — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Turkish: dağıtmak — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Turkish: paylaştırmak — to divide into portions and dispense
  • Arabic: وَزَّعَ (wazzaʕa) — to supply to retail outlets
  • Dutch: leveren — to supply to retail outlets
  • Finnish: jaella — to supply to retail outlets
  • French: distribuer — to supply to retail outlets
  • German: ausliefern — to supply to retail outlets
  • German: verteilen — to supply to retail outlets
  • German: beliefern — to supply to retail outlets
  • Hebrew: הפיץ (hefíts) — to supply to retail outlets
  • Icelandic: dreifa — to supply to retail outlets
  • Japanese: 配達する (haitatsu-suru) — to supply to retail outlets
  • Japanese: 配送する (haisō-suru) — to supply to retail outlets
  • Portuguese: distribuir — to supply to retail outlets
  • Romanian: distribui — to supply to retail outlets
  • Russian: распространя́ть (rasprostranjátʹ) — to supply to retail outlets
  • Russian: распространи́ть (rasprostranítʹ) — to supply to retail outlets
  • Swedish: distribuera — to supply to retail outlets
  • Tagalog: ipamahagi — to supply to retail outlets
  • Tagalog: ibahagi — to supply to retail outlets
  • Arabic: وَزَّعَ (wazzaʕa) — to deliver or pass out
  • Armenian: բաժանել (bažanel) — to deliver or pass out
  • Basque: banatu — to deliver or pass out
  • Bulgarian: раздавам (razdavam) — to deliver or pass out
  • Chinese Mandarin: 分配 (fēnpèi) — to deliver or pass out
  • Czech: distribuovat — to deliver or pass out
  • Esperanto: disdoni — to deliver or pass out
  • Finnish: jakaa — to deliver or pass out
  • French: distribuer — to deliver or pass out
  • German: ausliefern — to deliver or pass out
  • German: verteilen — to deliver or pass out
  • Hebrew: חילק (khilék) — to deliver or pass out
  • Icelandic: útbýta — to deliver or pass out
  • Icelandic: dreifa — to deliver or pass out
  • Portuguese: distribuir — to deliver or pass out
  • Romanian: distribui — to deliver or pass out
  • Romanian: livra — to deliver or pass out
  • Romanian: repartiza — to deliver or pass out
  • Russian: раздава́ть (razdavátʹ) — to deliver or pass out
  • Russian: разда́ть (razdátʹ) — to deliver or pass out
  • Swedish: dela ut — to deliver or pass out
  • Swedish: utdela — to deliver or pass out
  • Turkish: dağıtmak — to deliver or pass out
  • Bulgarian: разпръсквам (razprǎskvam) — to scatter or spread
  • Catalan: repartir — to scatter or spread
  • Catalan: distribuir — to scatter or spread
  • Dutch: verspreiden — to scatter or spread
  • Finnish: levittää — to scatter or spread
  • French: répartir — to scatter or spread
  • Galician: espallar — to scatter or spread
  • Galician: despender — to scatter or spread
  • Galician: distribuír — to scatter or spread
  • Galician: repartir — to scatter or spread
  • German: verteilen — to scatter or spread
  • Icelandic: dreifa — to scatter or spread
  • Italian: suddividere — to scatter or spread
  • Italian: distribuire — to scatter or spread
  • Italian: ripartire — to scatter or spread
  • Japanese: 蒔く (maku) — to scatter or spread
  • Māori: tītaritari — to scatter or spread
  • Portuguese: espalhar — to scatter or spread
  • Portuguese: distribuir — to scatter or spread
  • Portuguese: repartir — to scatter or spread
  • Russian: разбра́сывать (razbrásyvatʹ) — to scatter or spread
  • Russian: разброса́ть (razbrosátʹ) — to scatter or spread
  • Russian: разбры́згивать (razbrýzgivatʹ) — to scatter or spread
  • Russian: разбры́згать (razbrýzgatʹ) — to scatter or spread
  • Spanish: repartir — to scatter or spread
  • Spanish: distribuir — to scatter or spread
  • Swedish: fördela — to scatter or spread
  • Armenian: բաշխել (bašxel) — to apportion
  • Dutch: verdelen — to apportion
  • Finnish: jakaa — to apportion
  • French: répartir — to apportion
  • German: verteilen — to apportion
  • Hebrew: חילק (khilék) — to apportion
  • Icelandic: dreifa — to apportion
  • Portuguese: parcelar — to apportion
  • Romanian: repartiza — to apportion
  • Romanian: distribui — to apportion
  • Russian: дели́ть (delítʹ) — to apportion
  • Russian: разделя́ть (razdeljátʹ) — to apportion
  • Russian: раздели́ть (razdelítʹ) — to apportion
  • Swedish: fördela — to apportion
  • Dutch: indelen — to classify or separate into categories
  • Dutch: opdelen — to classify or separate into categories
  • Finnish: luokitella — to classify or separate into categories
  • Finnish: lajitella — to classify or separate into categories
  • Finnish: jakaa — to classify or separate into categories
  • French: répartir — to classify or separate into categories
  • German: aufteilen — to classify or separate into categories
  • Hebrew: חילק (khilék) — to classify or separate into categories
  • Icelandic: skipta — to classify or separate into categories
  • Icelandic: flokka — to classify or separate into categories
  • Japanese: 分ける (wakeru) — to classify or separate into categories
  • Japanese: 分類する (bunrui-suru) — to classify or separate into categories
  • Portuguese: classificar — to classify or separate into categories
  • Romanian: împărți — to classify or separate into categories
  • Romanian: repartiza — to classify or separate into categories
  • Romanian: clasifica — to classify or separate into categories
  • Russian: разделить (razdelitʹ) — to classify or separate into categories
  • Swedish: uppdela — to classify or separate into categories
  • Finnish: jakautua — to be distributive
Real reading context

distribute in complete knowledge articles

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