Browse all

mete out

C1 formal inseparable transitive
In simple words

To give out punishment or a reward in an official or serious way.

Literal meaning: 'Mete' is an archaic verb meaning to measure and distribute; 'out' signals distribution. Together: to measure and give out an allotted share.

Meanings

1 C1 formal

To officially give or impose a punishment or penalty.

"The judge meted out a ten-year sentence to each of the convicted conspirators."

""The punishment meted out to whistleblowers sends a chilling message to others.""

— The Guardian, 2013 (reporting on Edward Snowden case coverage)
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 formal

To dispense justice, treatment, or rewards in a measured, deliberate way.

"History has not meted out equal credit to the women who contributed to the discovery."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Almost always collocates with 'punishment', 'justice', 'penalties', or occasionally 'rewards'. Rarely used in everyday conversation; found mainly in journalism, legal writing, and formal speeches. The verb 'mete' does not appear independently in modern English.

Commonly used with

punishment justice penalties sentences discipline rewards

Forms

Base
mete out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
metes out
he/she/it
Past simple
meted out
yesterday
Past participle
meted out
have + pp
-ing form
meting out
continuous

Understand "mete out" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Synonyms

dispense administer hand down deal out impose deliver

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "mete out" on Looplines