dealt
B1Neutral to formal; common in written and spoken English.
Definition
Meaning
The past tense and past participle of the verb 'deal', meaning to distribute, give out, or handle a situation.
Can refer to the act of having distributed cards in a game, having administered justice or punishment, or having engaged in business transactions. Figuratively, it means to have handled or coped with a person, problem, or situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a verb. The noun 'deal' is far more common in its base form. 'Dealt' often implies a concluded action with a sense of finality or consequence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] dealt [Object] to [Recipient][Subject] dealt with [Problem/Person][Subject] was dealt [Object]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dealt a bad hand”
- “dealt from the bottom of the deck”
- “dealt a crushing blow”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to transactions, negotiations, or problem-solving (e.g., 'The merger was dealt with swiftly').
Academic
Used in historical or social contexts regarding administration of justice or resources (e.g., 'The issue was dealt with in the previous chapter').
Everyday
Common for discussing how a situation was handled (e.g., 'I've already dealt with that email').
Technical
In card games, specifically refers to the distribution of cards.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The teacher dealt the worksheets to the class.
- The committee has dealt with the complaint.
- He was dealt a winning hand.
American English
- The manager dealt the assignments fairly.
- She dealt with the crisis calmly.
- I was dealt a bad card from the start.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She dealt the cards.
- He dealt with the problem.
- The judge dealt a harsh sentence to the criminal.
- Have you dealt with that customer's enquiry yet?
- The company was dealt a severe financial blow by the new regulations.
- The author deftly dealt with the complex themes in her novel.
- The diplomat skilfully dealt with the multifaceted crisis, averting a potential conflict.
- The historical injustices dealt to the population have had lasting repercussions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'DEALT' as 'DEAL' + 'T' for 'Time Past' – it's what you dealt in the past.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A CARD GAME (e.g., 'He was dealt a bad hand in life').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'дел' (noun for 'affair/business').
- Do not confuse with 'торговал' ('traded') for all contexts; 'dealt with' is often 'разбирался с' or 'имел дело с'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dealed' (incorrect) instead of 'dealt'.
- Confusing 'dealt with' (handled) and 'dealt in' (traded in).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'dealt' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'dealed' is a common error. The correct past tense and past participle of 'deal' is 'dealt'.
'Dealt with' means to handle, manage, or take care of something. 'Dealt in' means to trade or do business in a particular commodity (e.g., He dealt in rare stamps).
Rarely. It is almost exclusively a verb form. In contexts like 'a dealt hand', it functions as a participle modifying a noun, not a pure adjective.
It is pronounced /dɛlt/, rhyming with 'felt' and 'melt'. The 'ea' is pronounced as a short 'e' (/ɛ/).