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Glite Dictionary
📤 To give out 🪨 A boundary marker
to mete

to mete

4 8.1
To give something in set amounts, for example punishments or praise
  • verb
  • /miːt/
  • Formal
translation icon : distribuir
  • Why mete out punishment to a man who has proven himself a useful citizen?
  • mete out punishment
  • mete out justice
  • mete out harsh punishment

Interesting information is dangerous, so it needs to be concealed or or at least meted out in doses.

Examples

  • We shall mete out justice that is swift and retribution that is final.

    The Wind and the Lion (1975)

  • The court must mete out more drastic punishment!

    Inherit the Wind (1960)

  • Why does our criminal justice system mete out so much less punishment than what the public wants?

    Academic text (1997)

  • It's impossible to mete out justice if one does not understand and acknowledge injustice.

    Blog text (24)

  • Then the Persians landed at Marathon to mete out the same punishment to Athens.

  • Our forefathers and the God of Kirinyaga see all the wrongs done by each one, and they mete out a fitting punishment for us all.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The primary dispute seems to have been over whether God alone could mete out this punishment or whether human agents, such as popes and bishops, could also make such judgments.

    Academic text (2002)

  • The teacher decided to mete out extra assignments to students who needed more practice.

  • During the meeting, the manager will mete out responsibilities among the team members.

  • The council agreed to mete out funds to various community projects to support local development.

Synonyms

to hand out
vsto mete
165 1.8

To give something to people in a group

is about measured distribution rather than simply handing items out
to give out
vsto mete
143 2.3

To hand things to several people

is more specifically about allocating measured amounts
to dole out
vsto mete
34 4.0

To give small amounts of something to several people over time

refers to measured allocation without implying small or repeated portions
to dish out
vsto mete
  • Informal
28 3.4

To give out things to several people, often food or advice

describes controlled allocation rather than casual or informal giving
to dispense
vsto mete
19 3.7

To give medicine or other things to people at a pharmacy

is the act of measured allocation beyond service or medical contexts
to divvy up
vsto mete
  • Informal
10 4.2

Share things or money between several people

is a measured method of allocation rather than informal sharing
to mete out
vsto mete
5 7.9

To give out punishment or justice to someone in a controlled way

is the general action of measured distribution across many contexts
to measure out
vsto mete
4 3.6

To take an exact amount using a cup, spoon, or ruler

focuses on measured distribution but may not require instruments
to deal out
vsto mete
3 3.2

To give things to several people, often one by one, like cards

is about measured allocation across contexts, not only routine uses
to parcel out
vsto mete
3 4.8

To divide something into parts and give each part to different people

is about controlled allocation rather than just assigning parts
to ration out
vsto mete
1 4.2

To give people small set amounts of things like food or water when supplies are low

covers measured sharing more broadly, not only scarcity situations
to portion out
vsto mete
1 3.4

To divide something into parts and give each part to different people

emphasizes measured giving rather than the act of dividing itself

Antonyms

to withhold
210 5.1

Refuse to give something someone wants or needs

to retain
60 3.0

To hold something inside so it does not escape

Phrasal Verbs

to mete out
5 7.9

To give out punishment or justice to someone in a controlled way

How Measured

to ration
34 5.1
to apportion
8 7.0
to mete
  • Formal
4 8.1
to distribute
87 2.0
to give
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

mete infinitive
meted past
meted past participle
meting present participle
meets third person singular

Etymology

The verb mete, often seen in the phrase 'mete out', comes from the same idea as measure meaning 'to measure', so to mete something out is to give it in measured amounts, which is why we talk about 'meting out' punishments or rewards.