dispense to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dispense to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of distributing or providing something to someone. Example: "The pharmacist will dispense to the patients their prescribed medications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

These he would occasionally dispense to would-be patients who got him in a corner.

The New Yorker

The extension of the market economy intensified divisions, especially as chiefs became identified with unpopular colonial policies and no longer had sufficient land to dispense to their followers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Doctors may be able to diagnose and dispense to patients abroad whom they never meet.One of the best things about electronic commerce is that it is fairly free from interference by governments.

The Economist

But when Jim Harbaugh arrived in San Francisco to rebuild the 49ers last season, he took with him an exhortation his father used to dispense to the entire family.

The New York Times - Sports

There had been no downtime, and the $12 per diem that Mr. Carlson had planned to dispense to each band member — whiskey and cigarette money, he called it — rarely materialized.

The New York Times - Arts

"I've often said to myself, 'Of all the free advice that I willfully dispense to people, I'd like to take some of it back.' It's a lot harder than it looks".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

It is easy to dispense advice to Labour's top team, much harder to implement it.

Independent

Francis took the opportunity on Friday to dispense down-to-earth advice.

The New York Times

These include differences in our logistics data sources (forecasted dispensed-to-user; versus issues data, which tend to be higher than dispensed-to-user data; versus actual dispensed-to-user data) and possible differences in wastage rates in individual countries.

Global health, science and practice

It is always tricky for victors to dispense justice to losers.

The New York Times

This nutrition advice will be freely dispensed to customers.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dispense to", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being distributed and to whom. For example, "The pharmacist will dispense the medication to the patient."

Common error

Avoid using "dispense to" when a simpler verb like "give" or "provide" is more appropriate. Overusing "dispense to" can make your writing sound overly formal or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

Dispense is a verb that, when combined with the preposition to, functions as a transitive verb phrase indicating the action of distributing or providing something to someone or something. This phrase is frequently used to describe the act of giving something out in a controlled or official manner, as Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dispense to" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe the act of distributing something to someone. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is most frequently encountered in news and media sources, followed by scientific contexts. While not strictly formal, it is often preferred in situations requiring precision, such as describing the distribution of medicine or resources. Alternatives like "distribute to" or "provide to" may be suitable depending on the desired level of formality and the specific context. Be mindful of overusing the phrase, as simpler alternatives may sometimes be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distribute to

Focuses on the act of spreading or handing out something to multiple recipients.

administer to

Implies a more formal or controlled distribution, often related to medicine or resources.

provide to

A general term for supplying something needed or desired.

give out to

More informal, suggesting a casual or unplanned distribution.

allocate to

Emphasizes the process of assigning specific amounts or portions.

supply to

Highlights the act of furnishing or making available.

issue to

Suggests an official or authorized distribution, often in a formal setting.

hand out to

Similar to 'give out to', but can imply a more organized distribution.

allot to

Similar to 'allocate to', emphasizing a fair or proportional distribution.

present to

Focuses on the act of formally giving something to someone.

FAQs

How can I use "dispense to" in a sentence?

You can use "dispense to" to describe the act of distributing something, often in a formal or official context. For example: "The doctor will dispense medication to the patients".

What are some alternatives to "dispense to"?

Alternatives include "distribute to", "provide to", "administer to", and "give out to", depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "dispense to" or "give to"?

"Dispense to" is generally more formal than "give to". Use "dispense to" in situations where you want to convey a sense of official distribution or administration.

What's the difference between "dispense to" and "provide to"?

"Dispense to" often implies a controlled or regulated distribution, such as medicine from a pharmacist, while "provide to" is a more general term for supplying something.