mete out

verb

To distribute something in portions; to apportion or dole out.

Similar
distributeadministerdealparcel outlotdispenseshell outdeal out
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Meanings

verbmete out (third-person singular simple present metes out, present participle meting out, simple past and past participle meted out)

present singular third person metes out · participle present meting out · participle past meted out · past meted out

  1. transitiveTo distribute something in portions; to apportion or dole out.

    He was also under scrutiny for the time line on which he meted out relationship milestones, which conveniently aligned with the show’s narrative progression.

    2022 June 2, Anna Peele, “Inside ‘Love Island,’ From the Tragic Suicide Deaths to New Mental Health Protocols”, in Vanity Fair

Synonyms & antonyms

verbadminister or bestow, as in small portions

Similar
distributeadministerdealparcel outlotdispenseshell outdeal outdish outallotdole out
Broader
give
Also see
administerallotdealdeal outdish outdispensedistributedole outlotparcel outpiecemealportion outshell out

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Catalan distribuir
  • distribuirto distribute something in portions
Dutch verdelen, toekennen
  • verdelento distribute something in portions
  • toekennento distribute something in portions
French allouer, distribuer
  • allouerto distribute something in portions
  • distribuerto distribute something in portions
German verteilen, austeilen
  • verteilento distribute something in portions
  • austeilento distribute something in portions
  • zumessento distribute something in portions
Italian distribuire
  • distribuireto distribute something in portions
Persian سهم دادن, بخش کردن
  • سهم دادن (sahm dâdan)to distribute something in portions
  • بخش کردن (baxš kardan)to distribute something in portions
Polish rozdzielać, rozdzielić
  • rozdzielaćto distribute something in portions
  • rozdzielićto distribute something in portions
  • wymierzaćto distribute something in portions
  • wymierzyćto distribute something in portions
Portuguese distribuir
  • distribuirto distribute something in portions
Russian раздавать
  • раздавать (razdavatʹ)to distribute something in portions
Spanish distribuir
  • distribuirto distribute something in portions
Cite this entry
APA

mete out. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mete%20out

MLA

“mete out.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mete%20out. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mete out,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mete%20out.

Source: mete out on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.