What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dealt
Example
The manager dealt with the customer's complaint promptly. [dealt: verb]
Example
The consequences of his actions were dealt with severely. [dealt: past participle]
Example
He dealt the cards to each player in turn. [dealt: verb]
distributed
Example
The charity distributed food and clothing to the homeless. [distributed: verb]
Example
The company distributed its products across the country. [distributed: past tense]
Example
The teacher distributed the worksheets to the students. [distributed: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distributed is more commonly used than dealt in everyday language. Distributed is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while dealt is less common and is typically associated with specific contexts such as card games or problem-solving.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dealt and distributed?
Both dealt and distributed can be used in formal and informal contexts, but dealt may be slightly more formal due to its association with problem-solving and decision-making.