Distribute: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when you are talking about giving out something to multiple people or places.

• The charity distributed food and water to the victims.
• They distributed flyers for the upcoming event.

Use when giving out something, often in small amounts. Frequently used for services or medications.

• The nurse dispensed medication to the patients.
• They dispense legal advice to those in need.

Use when something is being spread widely across a large area, often items or people scatter.

• The police dispersed the crowd after the protest.
• The wind dispersed the seeds across the field.

Use when you are assigning resources or tasks for a specific purpose.

• The company allocated funds for research and development.
• We need to allocate time for each part of the project.

Use when dividing and assigning parts of something, often for fairness or proportion.

• The profits were apportioned among the partners.
• They apportioned the chores to avoid conflict.

Use when splitting something into parts or groups.

• She divided the cake into eight pieces.
• The teacher divided the class into teams for the project.

Use when dividing or giving out items or resources to multiple recipients in a systematic way.

• They will distribute food to the homeless
• The teacher distributed the exam papers to all students

Use when scattering or spreading items or people over a wide area, often implying a more random or less controlled distribution.

• The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd
• Seeds are dispersed by the wind

Use when extending or expanding items or concepts over a surface or among people, often implying gradual or natural distribution.

• She spread butter on her toast
• The news of the event spread quickly throughout the city

Use when setting aside or designating resources or budget for a specific purpose.

• The company allocated funds for employee training
• The government allocated land for the new hospital

Use when organizing and positioning resources or personnel in a strategic manner, often for military, tech, or project management situations.

• The general decided to deploy troops to the frontline
• The company will deploy new software to improve customer service

Used when referring to the act of handing out or sharing something with multiple people or places.

• The teacher will distribute the worksheets to all the students.
• The charity organization helps to distribute food to the poor.

Commonly used when talking about transporting or bringing goods, messages, or services to a person or place.

• The delivery of the package is expected tomorrow.
• We offer pizza delivery until midnight.

Used in formal contexts, often related to the spreading of information, knowledge, or ideas widely.

• The dissemination of scientific knowledge is crucial for progress.
• Public health officials are responsible for the dissemination of important health information.

Typically used in business and logistics to describe the entire process of producing and delivering a product, from raw materials to the end consumer.

• Improving the supply chain can significantly reduce costs.
• Disruptions in the supply chain can affect product availability.

Used to talk about the movement or spread of something, especially information, money, or as a term often related to media and publications.

• The circulation of the local newspaper has increased significantly.
• This information is not meant for public circulation.

Refers specifically to the transportation of goods, particularly in large quantities, usually by sea, air, or land.

• The shipment of raw materials will arrive by next week.
• We are tracking the shipment to ensure it arrives on time.