What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
disburse
Example
The company will disburse the funds for the project next week. [disburse: verb]
Example
The government will disburse the aid package to the affected areas. [disbursing: present participle]
distribute
Example
The teacher will distribute the worksheets to the students. [distribute: verb]
Example
The charity organization will distribute the food supplies to the needy families. [distributing: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distribute is more commonly used than disburse in everyday language. Distribute is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while disburse is less common and refers specifically to the transfer of funds or resources.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between disburse and distribute?
Disburse is typically associated with a more formal or technical tone, while distribute can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
