hand out or spread around to people

distribute

verb|/dɪˈstrɪb.juːt/

To give out or deliver something to multiple recipients

Examples

In a meeting

Please distribute these documents to everyone before the meeting.

Over coffee

Can you help me distribute these party invitations?

Why this word

give out

distribute is more formal and implies systematic allocation to multiple recipients

share

distribute suggests organized allocation according to a plan or system

spread

distribute implies deliberate, controlled allocation, while spread can be random or uncontrolled

Usage tip

Use when something needs to be shared among multiple people or places; implies organized delivery

Etymology

Latin 'distribuere' from 'dis-' (apart) + 'tribuere' (to assign, allot)

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