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."
inseparable
deal to
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
To give cards or deliver a blow to a specific person.
In plain English
To give something — like a card in a game or a hit — to one particular person.
What does "deal to" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To hand or distribute something toward a specific recipient.
Actually means
To give something — like a card in a game or a hit — to one particular person.
Usage tip
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'.
Words that pair with "deal to"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
cards hand blow loss damage defeat
How to conjugate "deal to"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "deal to" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "deal to" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "deal to"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
deliver to give to hand to pass to
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.