1 B1 neutral
To distribute items, especially playing cards, among a group of people.
"She dealt out the cards evenly so that each player had seven."
separable
deal out
B1 neutral separable transitive
To distribute something among several people, or to inflict something such as punishment.
In plain English
To give things out to a group of people, like sharing cards in a game, or to give someone a punishment.
What does "deal out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic formal
To inflict or impose something, especially punishment or damage, on someone.
"The judge dealt out harsh sentences to all three defendants."
“
He could deal out death and destruction with the best of them.
— George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones (1996)
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To send something outward by dealing/distributing it.
Actually means
To give things out to a group of people, like sharing cards in a game, or to give someone a punishment.
Usage tip
Used in both literal contexts (card games) and figurative ones (dealing out justice or punishment). The figurative use often appears in formal or literary writing.
Words that pair with "deal out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
cards punishment justice damage rewards sentences
How to conjugate "deal out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
deal out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
deals out
he/she/it
Past simple
dealt out
yesterday
Past participle
dealt out
have + pp
-ing form
dealing out
continuous
Hear "deal out" in the wild
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