disburse

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'disburse' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of paying or giving out money or other resources. Example sentence: The bank disbursed $600 to the customer in the form of a loan.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The UN is not the obvious forum for discussing debt restructuring: unlike the International Monetary Fund, it is not a lender of last resort with emergency cash to disburse, and doesn't have a seat around the table when countries have to go to their creditors to ask for help.

The Guardian - Business

We have a mandate for a sustainable solution within the eurozone Yannis Dragasakis Athens is in a race against the clock to unlock €7.2bn (£5.3bn) in rescue loans the EU and IMF have refused to disburse until the government delivers a convincing package of reforms.

The Guardian

A wide-ranging USAid reform effort, launched in 2010, has promised to raise the percentage of money spent through direct contracts with local private businesses and has a target to disburse 30% of funding through local institutions – including governments and NGOs – by 2015.

The Guardian

If the IMF disburses all the money it has promised, it will disburse about $18 billion over the next four years.

The Economist

But it is not clear if the bank would do that before the euro zone agrees to disburse the bail-out cash.What about this talk of a third bail-out?

The Economist

Thus was born the Bank of England.In this section Greece lightning Two tiers, too complex The Swiss diet Pulling for the home team Correction: Europe's bail-out plan Broke broker All change He who pays the paupers… ReprintsCentral banks routinely serve as their government's agent: they accept payments, disburse outlays, auction and redeem their bonds.

The Economist

Other countries, including Nepal, are working on "branchless banking": roving teams or local vendors equipped with fingerprint-reading devices disburse the cash.

The Economist

Even the World Bank, with its knowledge base and ability to disburse and monitor funds in some of the most difficult settings in the world, can address problems of health or environment or other specialised concerns only in partnership with UN agencies that have expertise in these specific areas.

The Economist

But after six months in action, PMO officials say they are still discussing with Iraqis how to disburse the money.

The Economist

It will be their final joint review of progress: the EU loan programme ends this year although the IMF plans to disburse another €16 billion in 2015 and the first quarter of 2016.Negotiations will be tough.

The Economist

He puts some of the blame on the European Union, both for low growth and for failing to disburse structural funds more quickly.That is not terribly convincing.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial matters, use "disburse" to denote the formal and official act of paying out or expending funds from a designated source. This provides a sense of accountability and proper procedure.

Common error

Avoid using "disburse" when describing general spending or casual payments. "Disburse" implies a formal process. Instead, use words like "spend", "pay", or "give" for informal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The verb "disburse" functions primarily as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (funds, payments, etc.). It denotes the action of officially paying out or distributing money, usually from an organization or fund. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "disburse" is a verb that signifies the formal act of paying out or distributing funds, usually from an organization or public fund. Ludwig AI states that the term is correct and usable in written English. Its usage is very common, particularly in news and media, formal business contexts, and encyclopedias, reflecting its professional tone. When employing "disburse", it's important to convey a sense of transparency and adherence to procedure, contrasting it with informal terms like "spend". Key related phrases include "allocate funds" and "distribute payments". Common errors involve using it in casual contexts or confusing it with "reimburse". In short, "disburse" is a formal, precise term best suited for describing official financial transactions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allocate funds

Focuses on the planned distribution of funds for a specific purpose.

distribute payments

Emphasizes the action of giving out payments to multiple recipients.

expend resources

Highlights the act of spending resources, often in a planned or budgeted manner.

issue payments

Focuses on the formal process of releasing payments.

provide funding

Stresses the act of making funds available for a particular cause or project.

release funds

Emphasizes the act of making funds available after a period of holding or restriction.

pay out funds

A more direct way of saying to give out money.

allot resources

Highlights the assignment of resources to different recipients or uses.

grant funds

Emphasizes the act of awarding funds, often in a competitive or selective process.

supply resources

Focuses on providing a supply of resources, often on a continuing basis.

FAQs

How do you use "disburse" in a sentence?

The verb "disburse" is used to describe the act of paying out or distributing money, especially from a fund or public account. For example, "The charity will "disburse" the donations to the victims of the disaster."

What are some synonyms for "disburse"?

Some synonyms for "disburse" include "allocate funds", "distribute payments", and "issue payments". The best choice depends on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "disburse" instead of "spend"?

"Disburse" is more appropriate when talking about the formal or official distribution of funds, especially by an organization or institution. "Spend" is a more general term for using money. You would "disburse" funds from a grant, but you might "spend" money on groceries.

Is "disburse" the same as "reimburse"?

No, "disburse" means to pay out or distribute funds, while "reimburse" means to repay someone for expenses they have already incurred. For example, a company might "disburse" grant money, and then "reimburse" employees for travel expenses.