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dispense

verb
dis·​pense | \ di-ˈspen(t)s How to pronounce dispense (audio) \
dispensed; dispensing

Definition of dispense

transitive verb

1a : to divide and share out according to a plan : to deal out in portions dispense food among the needy
b : administer dispense justice
2 : to exempt from a law or release from a vow, oath, or impediment : to give dispensation (see dispensation sense 2a) to : exempt may dispense students from this requirement
3 : to prepare and distribute (medication) dispensing pills to their patients

intransitive verb

archaic : to grant dispensation
dispense with
1 : to set aside : discard dispensing with the usual introduction
2 : to do without could dispense with such a large staff
Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about dispense

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Choose the Right Synonym for dispense

distribute, dispense, divide, deal, dole out mean to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group. distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts. distributed food to the needy dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need. dispensed wisdom to the students divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal. three charitable groups divided the proceeds deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece. deal out equipment and supplies dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply. doled out what little food there was

Examples of dispense in a Sentence

The ATM only dispenses $20 bills. a newspaper columnist who dispenses advice to millions of readers each week Pharmacists are certified to dispense medication.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 An increasing willingness to dispense the opioid overdose antidote naloxone at pharmacies. — Sy Mukherjee, Fortune, "Novartis Defends $2.1 Million Gene Therapy After FDA Data Manipulation Claims—Brainstorm Health," 6 Aug. 2019 One option to boost spaceplane readiness and lower costs was to dispense with human crews entirely, which meant getting rid of their crew living spaces and life support systems as well. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Everything We Know About the Air Force's Secret X-37B Spaceplane," 30 July 2019 The Lake Turkana Wind Power farm consists of 365 turbines with a capacity to dispense 310 megawatts of reliable, low-cost energy to Kenya’s national grid. — Abdi Latif Dahir, Quartz Africa, "Africa’s largest wind power project is now open in Kenya," 22 July 2019 But dissatisfaction with the prior result is not a justification for dispensing with the Constitution’s safeguards. — Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, "Acosta’s Sweetheart Deal Likely to Foreclose Epstein’s SDNY Prosecution," 13 July 2019 The Texas Medical Association publicly supports allowing physicians to dispense medication out of their offices. — Laura Garcia, ExpressNews.com, "Texas doctors sue state for right to dispense medication," 8 July 2019 Other states that have taken the step have developed specific protocols for pharmacists to dispense such products. — Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "For smokers trying to quit, Chantix, Zyban will no longer require a prescription," 12 Mar. 2019 Waymo's longer-term goal, however, is to dispense with safety drivers, at which point the company may be able to cut its fares significantly and still make a profit. — Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "We finally talked to an actual Waymo passenger—here’s what he told us," 13 Dec. 2018 Kolodny said the data reflects pills that were produced by these companies, prescribed by doctors and dispensed to patients at pharmacies. — Michael Nedelman And Arman Azad, CNN, "Newly released data shows flow of billions of pain pills from drug companies," 18 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dispense.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of dispense

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

History and Etymology for dispense

Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin dispensare to exempt, from Latin, to distribute, from dis- + pensare to weigh, frequentative of pendere to weigh, pay out — more at spin

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More Definitions for dispense

dispense

verb
How to pronounce dispense (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of dispense

: to give or provide (something)
: to prepare and give (medicine)

See the full definition for dispense in the English Language Learners Dictionary

dispense

verb
dis·​pense | \ di-ˈspens How to pronounce dispense (audio) \
dispensed; dispensing

Kids Definition of dispense

1 : to give out in small amounts The machine dispenses candy.
2 : to give out as deserved The judge dispensed justice.
3 : to put up or prepare medicine in a form ready for use
dispense with
: to do or get along without Let's dispense with introductions.

dispense

transitive verb
dis·​pense | \ dis-ˈpen(t)s How to pronounce dispense (audio) \
dispensed; dispensing

Medical Definition of dispense

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