mete
C1/C2Formal, literary, historical, legal.
Definition
Meaning
To distribute or apportion (something, especially punishment or justice) in measured amounts.
To allot or deal out, typically in a deliberate, measured, or authoritative manner, often with a connotation of severe or impartial distribution.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb is almost always used with an object (what is being distributed) and a prepositional phrase introduced by 'out'. It carries a formal and somewhat archaic tone. It is strongly associated with the administration of justice, punishment, or rewards.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally formal and infrequent in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes authority, measurement, and impartiality, often with a judicial or punitive nuance.
Frequency
Very low frequency in modern everyday language in both regions. Found more commonly in legal, historical, or literary contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + mete + out + [Object] (e.g., The judge meted out a harsh sentence.)It + be + meted + out (e.g., Severe penalties were meted out to the offenders.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specifically; the verb itself is often used in fixed phrases like 'mete out'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in formal contexts regarding allocation of resources or penalties.
Academic
Used in historical, legal, or literary studies to describe distribution of justice or rewards.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound formal or old-fashioned.
Technical
Used in legal writing to describe the imposition of sentences or penalties.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The headmaster will mete out detentions for tardiness.
- It is the monarch's historic duty to mete out honours.
American English
- The judge meted out the maximum sentence.
- The league meted out fines to both teams.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The new regulations allow the committee to mete out fines for violations.
- The king was known to mete out harsh punishments.
- The tribunal's power to mete out justice was absolute and unchallenged.
- He believed fate would eventually mete out the appropriate rewards and penalties.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MEasuring cup TEAspoon (ME-TE) used to carefully measure out ingredients. Similarly, 'mete' means to measure out or distribute carefully.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE/REWARD IS A MEASURED QUANTITY TO BE DISTRIBUTED.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not related to the Russian word 'метить' (to aim/mark).
- Avoid confusing with 'meet' (встречать). The pronunciation is identical to 'meat'/'meet'.
Common Mistakes
- Omitting the necessary preposition 'out' (e.g., 'The court will mete justice' is incorrect; it must be 'mete out justice').
- Using it in informal contexts where 'give' or 'hand out' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following sentences is 'mete' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a formal and somewhat literary word. It is most commonly encountered in the fixed phrase 'mete out' in legal, historical, or formal writing.
Rarely. In modern English, it is almost always used transitively with the particle 'out' (e.g., mete out punishment). Archaic uses without 'out' exist but are not standard today.
'Mete out' implies a measured, deliberate, and often authoritative distribution, especially of something negative like punishment. 'Hand out' is neutral and informal, meaning simply to distribute.
Yes, etymologically. It comes from an Old English word related to 'measure', which explains its core meaning of distributing in measured amounts.