- (usually followed by out)
to distribute or allot (something, often unpleasant)
(to) measure
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
mete1 /mit/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + out + object], met•ed, met•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to distribute by measure;
allot:to mete out praise. - to give out or order (punishment) officially:The judge meted out a prison term.
mete1
(mēt),USA pronunciation v.t., met•ed, met•ing.
mete2 (mēt),USA pronunciation n.
Met.E.,
- to distribute or apportion by measure;
allot;
dole (usually fol. by out):to mete out punishment. - [Archaic.]to measure.
- bef. 900; Middle English; Old English metan; cognate with Dutch meten, Old Norse meta, Gothic mitan, German messen to measure, Greek mé̄desthai to ponder
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged deal, measure, parcel.
mete2 (mēt),USA pronunciation n.
- a limiting mark.
- a limit or boundary.
- Latin mēta goal, turning post
- Middle French
- Middle English 1275–1325
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged bound.
Met.E.,
- metallurgical engineer.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
a mark, limit, or boundary (esp in the phrase metes and bounds)
'mete out' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):