WordGarden.ioredistribute
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /rˌiːdɪstrˈɪbjuːt/
US
- /ˌridɪˈstrɪbjut/
Meanings
Verb
to give out, divide, or assign something again in a different way
to shift wealth, income, benefits, or burdens among people or groups, often through policy
to spread something again across an area, body, or system
More meaningsFewer meanings
to spread data, load, or other digital resources across systems again or differently
Beyond the definition
Imagine a baker making cookies for a party. At first, she puts all the cookies on one tray, but then she decides everyone would be happier if they were easier to reach. So she moves some from the crowded tray to smaller plates around the room.
To redistribute means to share something out again, often in a new or fairer way. Governments might redistribute wealth through taxes and social programs to help people who have less. A teacher might redistribute classroom tasks so everyone gets a fair chance to take part. It usually means taking something from one place or group and giving it to another. Sometimes it is done to make things work better, like spreading work more evenly across a team. Other times it is done to make things fairer.
To redistribute means to allocate or share something again, often with the goal of making things fairer, more efficient, or more balanced. It involves taking resources, whether they are physical goods, money, power, or responsibilities, from one place and moving them to another.
The concept is frequently used in political and economic contexts. For example, a government might redistribute income through progressive taxation (taking more from the wealthy) and social welfare programs (giving to those in need). This aims to reduce inequality and provide basic necessities for all citizens.
However, redistribution is not limited to finances. A company facing challenges might redistribute tasks among its employees to improve productivity. An event organizer could redistribute seating arrangements to make sure everyone has a good view. Even nature redistributes resources: rainfall refills rivers and lakes, spreading water across the landscape.
The act of redistribution often implies a prior imbalance or perceived unfairness. It suggests an attempt to correct that imbalance by shifting things around. While it can be a positive force for social justice and efficiency, it can also be controversial, as those who lose resources may resist the change.
So whether you are talking about wealth, workload, or water, redistribute describes the act of sharing something out again, often with a specific goal in mind, and sometimes with complex consequences.
Examples
- 1
Disaster aid
After the earthquake, aid workers redistributed food and water to villages that had received too little.
- 2
Workload
The company had to redistribute the work when two people on the team quit.
- 3
Sports coaching
The coach redistributed playing time so that younger players could get more experience.
- 4
Tax policy
The tax plan would redistribute money from richer areas to poorer ones.
- Patternredistribute + thing from A to B
move it from one group or place to another
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Organizational power
The reform was supposed to redistribute power away from senior managers and toward local offices.
- Patternredistribute power
change who has control
See also
Similar
- reallocate
- reapportion
- reassign
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- redistribute wealth
- redistribute resources
- redistribute income
- redistribute funds
Word family
Explore
- allocation
- progressive taxation
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- redistributeverb
Forms
- redistributedpast tenseverb
- redistributing-ing formverb
- redistributesverb