Distributing: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'distributing' when talking about giving out items or resources to a group of people, usually in a planned and organized manner.

• The charity is distributing food to those in need

Use 'dispense' when referring to the act of giving out items, often in a mechanical or official manner. This term is commonly used in medical or pharmaceutical contexts.

• The pharmacist is responsible for dispensing medication to patients

Use 'disperse' when referring to the action of spreading out or scattering items or people over a wide area. This term often has a more general and less organized connotation.

• The crowd began to disperse after the concert ended

Use 'allocate' in formal settings, such as business or administrative contexts, to mean assigning or setting aside resources for a specific purpose.

• The company decided to allocate more funds to research and development

In mathematics, use when describing the process of spreading out values through distribution properties, usually in the context of algebraic expressions.

• Distributing the multiplication over addition, we get 2*(3 + 4) = 2*3 + 2*4.
• By distributing the terms, the equation becomes simpler to solve.

Use when increasing quantities by a certain number or when performing the mathematical operation of multiplication.

• If you multiply 5 by 3, you get 15.
• The bacteria multiply rapidly under these conditions.

In mathematics, use when breaking down a number or expression into its factors.

• Factorize the expression x^2 - 4x + 4 into (x - 2)(x - 2).
• We need to factorize the number 12 into 2, 2, and 3.

Use when you are making something larger, more extensive, or more detailed.

• The company plans to expand its operations to Europe.
• Can you expand this paragraph to include more details?

This word is often used when handing out physical items to people or places, especially in a systematic way.

• The volunteers are distributing food to the homeless
• The company is distributing flyers to promote the event

Disseminate is typically used in a formal or academic context to mean spreading information, knowledge, or ideas to as many people as possible.

• The researchers disseminate their findings through academic journals
• The government is disseminating important information about health policies

Broadcast is most commonly used when referring to transmitting information, such as TV or radio programs, to a wide audience.

• The news will be broadcast at 6 PM
• The radio station will broadcast the live concert