portion out

USAGE SUMMARY

"portion out" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to divide or distribute something into portions. You can use it when talking about dividing something into smaller parts, such as food, resources, or tasks. Here are a few examples: - The chef portioned out the ingredients for the soup. - The teacher portioned out the group project evenly among the students. - The company decided to portion out their budget for different departments. - It's important to portion out your time wisely when studying for exams. - She carefully portioned out the treats for the children at the party.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Portion out around half to cool and freeze for an easy meal another day.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This week write down what you need to get done and then portion out tasks.

The Guardian

"It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in the life of this world: and We raise some of them above others in ranks, so that some may command work from others.

Huffington Post

One divides the N data samples randomly into K nearly-equal portions, and leaves each portion out, successively, while making K estimations of the model parameters, giving K models.

Plosone

7. Portion out grits onto each of four plates.

The New York Times - Food

Use a punch to drive the remaining portion out of the "eye".

The New York Times

But world governments are deeply divided on how to portion out the remaining carbon budget.

The Guardian

We portion out our energies according to need, and our own need is very often the last we consider.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Now that we've gotten the Donald Trump portion out of the way…" But his other prepared lines fell flat.

The Washington Post

Cut this portion out and you would create an increase in available food which could support 1.3 billion people.

The Guardian - Opinion

4 To serve, put the courgette noodles into 4 bowls, portion out 3 meatballs into each and pour over the broth.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When meal prepping, use "portion out" to accurately measure food servings into containers for consistent calorie control and balanced nutrition.

Common error

Avoid using "portion out" interchangeably with verbs like "divide" when you specifically intend to emphasize the creation of distinct servings or allocations rather than simply splitting something.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "portion out" is a phrasal verb, acting as a transitive verb. It describes the action of dividing something into specific quantities or allotments. Ludwig AI states that it's commonly used in written English to divide or distribute something into portions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "portion out" is a common and grammatically correct phrasal verb used to describe the division of something into specific quantities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted in written English. Occurring frequently in contexts such as news, academia, and science, the phrase carries a neutral tone and serves the communicative purpose of instructing or describing the process of dividing resources, food, or tasks into defined amounts. For alternative options, consider "divide up", "distribute", or "allocate". Remember to use "portion out" when you specifically mean creating distinct servings or allocations rather than just splitting something in general.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

divide up

Emphasizes the act of separating something into smaller parts.

distribute

Implies a wider or more general allocation to various recipients.

allocate

Suggests a formal or official assignment of resources or tasks.

apportion

Similar to allocate but often used in the context of assigning shares or responsibilities.

dispense

Indicates a measured or controlled distribution, often of something limited.

allot

Implies a specific quantity or share assigned to someone or something.

deal out

Suggests a casual or informal distribution, similar to dealing cards.

share out

Emphasizes the act of dividing something among a group, ensuring everyone gets a part.

mete out

Implies a strict or deserved distribution, often of something negative like punishment.

ration

Suggests a limited or controlled distribution, often due to scarcity.

FAQs

How can I use "portion out" in a sentence?

You can use "portion out" to describe dividing something into specific amounts, such as "The chef will "portion out" the soup into individual bowls" or "We need to "portion out" the tasks to the team members".

What's a good alternative to "portion out"?

Alternatives to "portion out" include "divide up", "distribute", or "allocate", depending on the context and level of formality you're aiming for.

Is it more appropriate to say "portion out" or "divide"?

"Portion out" implies creating defined servings or shares, whereas "divide" is a more general term for splitting something. Use "portion out" when you want to emphasize controlled allocation, such as in recipes or resource management.

What does "portion out" mean in the context of cooking?

In cooking, "portion out" means to divide food into individual servings, ensuring each serving contains the correct amount. This is important for controlling calorie intake and ensuring consistent flavor distribution.