handout
1 of 2noun
hand·out ˈhand-ˌau̇t 
1
: a portion of food, clothing, or money given to or as if to a beggar
2
: a folder or circular of information for free distribution
3
: a prepared statement released to the news media
hand out
2 of 2verb
handed out; handing out; hands out
transitive verb
1
a
: to give without charge
b
: to give freely
2
: administer
handed out a severe punishment
Synonyms
Verb
- administer
- allocate
- apportion
- deal (out)
- dispense
- distribute
- dole out
- mete (out)
- parcel (out)
- portion
- prorate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun He sat on the sidewalk asking for a handout. The family wasn't interested in government handouts. The handouts had all the major points of his speech outlined on them. Verb no system yet in place for handing out room assignments
Recent Examples on the Web
Fox News, 9 Sep. 2022 According to information from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, residents who find Egyptian geese should never feed them, either by direct handout or by placing food in accessible locations. Scott Luxor, Sun Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 Almendariz said one local organization gave her a handout with resources in San Antonio, a 1.5-hour drive from Uvalde. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2022 In this handout photo taken from video released by the Investigative Committee of Russia on Sunday, investigators work on the site of the explosion of a car driven by Daria Dugina outside Moscow. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC News, 22 Aug. 2022 Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meets U.S. Senator Ed Markey and other members of the U.S. congressional delegation at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan, in this handout image released on Aug. 15, 2022. CBS News, 15 Aug. 2022 In this government handout photo provided by Mexico's Secretariat of the Navy, agents escorted drug trafficker Rafael Caro Quintero, in Sinaloa state, Mexico, on Friday. Mark Stevenson, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2022 Republicans are painting student loan borrowers as freeloaders looking for a handout. Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2022 Not for a handout, mind you, but the insurance benefits those folks had paid for. al, 26 July 2022 See More
Noun
State tax may be charged on student loan handout funds. Fox News, 9 Sep. 2022 According to information from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, residents who find Egyptian geese should never feed them, either by direct handout or by placing food in accessible locations. Scott Luxor, Sun Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 Almendariz said one local organization gave her a handout with resources in San Antonio, a 1.5-hour drive from Uvalde. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2022 In this handout photo taken from video released by the Investigative Committee of Russia on Sunday, investigators work on the site of the explosion of a car driven by Daria Dugina outside Moscow. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC News, 22 Aug. 2022 Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meets U.S. Senator Ed Markey and other members of the U.S. congressional delegation at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan, in this handout image released on Aug. 15, 2022. CBS News, 15 Aug. 2022 In this government handout photo provided by Mexico's Secretariat of the Navy, agents escorted drug trafficker Rafael Caro Quintero, in Sinaloa state, Mexico, on Friday. Mark Stevenson, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2022 Republicans are painting student loan borrowers as freeloaders looking for a handout. Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2022 Not for a handout, mind you, but the insurance benefits those folks had paid for. al, 26 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
handout
noun
hand·out ˈhand-ˌau̇t
: something (as food, clothing, or money) given to a poor person
handed out
verb
as in distributed
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals no system yet in place for handing out room assignments Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- distributed
- dispensed
- doled out
- provided
- allocated
- divided
- supplied
- administered
- donated
- meted (out)
- assigned
- dished out
- apportioned
- parceled (out)
- prorated
- dealt (out)
- parcelled (out)
- furnished
- shared
- issued
- admeasured
- split
- portioned
- contributed
- spread
- allotted
- chipped in
- divvied (up)
- circulated
- shared (out)
- dolloped (out)
- disseminated
- proportioned
- disbursed
- redistributed
- measured (out)
- set
- appropriated
- allowed
- scattered
- lotted
- parted
- bestowed
- pledged
- dispersed
- rationed
- reapportioned
- reallocated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deprived (of)
- denied
- withheld
- refused
- rejected
- disallowed
- declined
- misallocated
- pinched
- begrudged
- niggled (out)
- stinted
- skimped