Disburse vs Disperse
disburse
to pay out money
disperse
to scatter
How to tell them apart
disbURSE hides a pURSE, so it means pay OUT money. dispERSE = scatter PERson by PERson, spread apart.
Test yourself
Which word fits from context? Pick one, then reveal the answer. This is exactly how the GRE tests these pairs.
Question 1
The foundation will the grant funds in quarterly installments, paying each recipient directly into a designated account.
Choose: disburse or disperse
Show answer
Answer: disburse
"grant funds... paying each recipient" signals paying out money = disburse; disperse (to scatter) does not fit deliberate payments.
Question 2
When the officers arrived, they ordered the throng blocking the avenue to , and within minutes the streets stood empty.
Choose: disburse or disperse
Show answer
Answer: disperse
"throng blocking the avenue... the streets stood empty" signals a crowd breaking apart = disperse; disburse (to pay out money) cannot take a crowd as its object.
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