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deal

n. · v.
US //ˈdiɫ// UK //dˈiːl// deal
Irregular verb past dealt past participle dealt
  1. 1 business agreement (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    an agreement between two or more people or companies, usually involving money or business.

    a business arrangement or transaction, often involving a formal or informal contract between parties.

    Example

    The two companies signed a deal to work together on the new project.

    Example

    After months of intense negotiation, the tech giants finally closed a multi-million dollar deal that would merge their cloud computing divisions.
  2. 2 a bargain (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a product or service that is sold at a very good price.

    a transaction considered to be financially advantageous to the buyer.

    Example

    I got a great deal on this laptop during the summer sale.

    Example

    Savvy travellers often wait until the last minute to book, hoping to secure a deal on luxury accommodation that would otherwise remain vacant.
    • rip off
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  1. 3 a lot (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a large amount of something; used in the phrase 'a great deal'.

    an indefinite but large quantity or amount, typically used with 'great' or 'good'.

    Example

    He spent a great deal of time researching the history of his family.

    Example

    The proposed infrastructure project has already attracted a great deal of criticism from local environmental groups concerned about habitat loss.
  2. 4 card games (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the act of giving out cards to players in a game.

    the distribution of playing cards to participants in a game; also the period of play between such distributions.

    Example

    Whose deal is it? I think I gave the cards out last time.

    Example

    The professional gambler watched the deal closely, looking for any slight hesitation that might reveal the dealer's lack of experience.
  3. 5 situation or problem (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a situation or a person's specific problem.

    an unspecified situation, matter, or personal issue; often used in the question 'What is the deal?'.

    Example

    I don't know what the deal is with the broken lift, but it's been a week.

    Example

    The manager wanted to know what the deal was with the delayed shipment, as the clients were becoming increasingly frustrated.
  4. 6 to manage or handle (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to take action to solve a problem or handle a situation.

    to take the necessary action to document, manage, or resolve a situation; usually followed by 'with'.

    Example

    She is very good at dealing with difficult customers at the bank.

    Example

    The crisis management team was forced to deal with several conflicting reports before they could issue an official statement to the press.

    Usage

    Always takes the preposition 'with' when referring to a person or problem.
  5. 7 to trade or sell (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to buy and sell things as a business, or to sell illegal drugs.

    to engage in commercial trade; also used specifically for the illicit sale of narcotics.

    Example

    The shop on the corner deals in rare books and old maps.

    Example

    The investigation revealed that the suspect had been dealing stolen electronics through various encrypted online marketplaces for several years.

    Usage

    Takes 'in' for general goods (deal in antiques) but is often used without a preposition for illegal drugs.
  6. 8 to give out cards (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to give playing cards to the people in a game.

    to distribute playing cards to players in a systematic manner.

    Example

    Please deal the cards so we can start the next round of the game.

    Example

    The croupier began to deal the cards with a mechanical precision that fascinated the onlookers at the high-stakes table.
  7. 9 to inflict damage (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to cause someone to suffer something bad, like a blow or a disappointment.

    to deliver or inflict something unpleasant, such as a physical blow or a metaphorical setback.

    Example

    The sudden increase in taxes dealt a heavy blow to small businesses.

    Example

    The supreme court's ruling dealt a significant blow to the government's proposed legislative reforms, effectively halting the project indefinitely.
Etymology 1

From Middle English del, dele, from Old English dǣl (“part, share, portion”), from Proto-West Germanic daili, from Proto-Germanic dailiz (“part, deal”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰ(h₁)-oy-lo- (“part, watershed”). Cognate with Scots dele (“part, portion”), West Frisian diel (“part, share”), Dutch deel (“part, share, portion”), German Teil (“part, portion, section”), Danish, Slovene, and Swedish del (“part”), Icelandic deila (“division, contention”), Gothic 𐌳𐌰𐌹𐌻𐍃 (dails, “portion”). Related to Old English dāl (“portion”). More at dole.

Etymology 2

From Middle English delen, from Old English dǣlan (“to divide, part”), from Proto-West Germanic dailijan, from Proto-Germanic dailijaną (“to divide, part, deal”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰail- (“part, watershed”). Cognates Cognate with West Frisian diele (“to divide, separate”), Dutch delen, German teilen, Swedish dela; and with Lithuanian dalinti (“divide”), Russian дели́ть (delítʹ).

Etymology 3

From Middle English dele (“plank”), from Middle Low German dele, from Old Saxon thili, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *þiljǭ (“plank, board”); cognate with Old English þille. Doublet of thill.

Word family
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