# dished

/ˈdɪʃt/ (US) · /dˈɪʃd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dished
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

to put food on plates and serve it to people. You use it when someone serves a meal from a big pot or dish.

For teachers: to serve food from a larger container onto individual plates. Commonly occurs with 'up' or 'out' to convey distribution to several people.

## Examples

- They dish up lunch for the kids every day.
- He dished up hot pasta for his friends after the football game.
- After hours of slow cooking, she dished the stew into warm bowls and carried them to the crowded table.

## Synonyms

serve, Plate

## Usage notes

- Typically used with 'up' or 'out' plus a direct object ('dish up dinner', 'dish out advice').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.