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deal to

B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

To give something — like a card in a game or a hit — to one particular person.

Literal meaning: To hand or distribute something toward a specific recipient.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To give a playing card or hand of cards to a specific player.

"The dealer dealt two cards to each player before revealing the flop."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To deliver something harmful or decisive to someone, such as a blow or defeat.

"The storm dealt massive damage to the coastal towns."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Most common in card-game contexts. Also used figuratively to mean delivering something negative (a loss, a blow) to someone. Less common than 'deal out'.

Commonly used with

cards hand blow loss damage defeat

Forms

Base
deal to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
deals to
he/she/it
Past simple
dealt to
yesterday
Past participle
dealt to
have + pp
-ing form
dealing to
continuous

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Synonyms

give to hand to deliver to pass to

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