Cool MateDistribute vs Pay out millions of dollars
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Distribute
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Pay out millions of dollars
Top 2,000 (common)
| Distribute | Pay out millions of dollars | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈstrɪbjuːt//ˈdɪstrɪbjuːt/","/dɪˈstrɪbjuːts//ˈdɪstrɪbjuːts/","/dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪd//ˈdɪstrɪbjuːtɪd/","/dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪŋ//ˈdɪstrɪbjuːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/","/dɪˈstrɪbjuːts/","/dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪd/","/dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //peɪ aʊt ˈmɪljənz əv ˈdɒləz//🇺🇸 //peɪ aʊt ˈmɪljənz əv ˈdɑːlərz// |
| Meaning | To give things out to many people. | To give a lot of money to someone. |
| Example | The teacher decided to distribute the books to the students. | The lottery company will pay out millions of dollars to the jackpot winner. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | equally, fairly, unequally, among, between, to, internationally, nationally, exclusively, evenly, uniformly, unevenly, across, among, between | pay out a fortune, pay out in cash, pay out winnings, pay out compensation, pay out royalties |
| Antonyms | collect, withhold | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'distribute' vs 'contribute'., Using 'distribute' without an object., Saying 'distribute to everyone' instead of 'distribute to them'. | Confusing 'pay out' with 'pay in' which means the opposite., Using 'payout' as a verb instead of 'pay out'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'distribute' when you're giving out items, like food or information. It's appropriate in both written and spoken contexts. Avoid it in very casual conversations where simpler words like 'give out' can be used. | Used in financial contexts, particularly when discussing large sums of money or winnings. Avoid in casual conversations unless relevant. |
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Frequently asked questions: Distribute vs Pay out millions of dollars
What's the difference between Distribute and Pay out millions of dollars?
Distribute: To give things out to many people. Pay out millions of dollars: To give a lot of money to someone.
Can you show an example of each?
Distribute: The teacher decided to distribute the books to the students. Pay out millions of dollars: The lottery company will pay out millions of dollars to the jackpot winner.
Can I use Distribute and Pay out millions of dollars interchangeably?
Not always. Distribute and Pay out millions of dollars are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.