English Reference
Verb

dispensing

v.
C1 Advanced US /dɪˈspɛnsɪŋ/ UK /dɪspˈɛnsɪŋ/ dis·pens·ing

v.giving out something to people, like medicine, money, or advice. It often describes a professional or official way of sharing things.

v.distributing or providing something, especially a service, information, or medication, in an official or systematic manner. Present participle of 'dispense'; often implies a position of authority or a mechanical process.


SIMPLE

The machine is dispensing tickets to the passengers.

CONTEXTUAL

Pharmacists spend much of their day dispensing prescriptions and explaining dosage instructions to patients.

COMPLEX

The automated system is capable of dispensing precise measurements of chemical reagents, thereby reducing the margin of human error in the laboratory environment.

Usage

The verb is transitive when meaning 'to distribute'; when followed by 'with', it means 'to get rid of' or 'to skip'.

Pitfall
The machine is dispensing with coffee.The machine is dispensing coffee.

To 'dispense with' means to stop using something; to 'dispense' means to give something out.

In response, local authorities started dispensing fuel straight from road tankers which keep changing their location to minimise the chances of being hit.

BBC News· 25 Aug 2026

Dispensing with baton and with strings reduced to chamber-orchestra proportions, Runnicles achieved delicate pianissimos and highlighted both movements’ dance-like character.

The Guardian· 28 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated