A variable output dispensing applicator configured to dispense patterns of adhesive onto a substrate, the applicator comprising: a manifold including a liquid supply passage and a liquid discharge outlet communicating with said liquid supply passage, said manifold delivering a flow of adhesive through said liquid discharge outlet; a liquid dividing module coupled to said manifold, said liquid dividing module including a liquid inlet (110, 216) communicating with said liquid discharge outlet of said manifold, a liquid outlet, a recirculation passage communicating with said manifold, and internal passages extending between said liquid inlet and said liquid outlet, said liquid dividing module dividing the flow of adhesive from said liquid discharge outlet into a first partial flow of adhesive that continuously moves to said liquid outlet and a second partial flow of adhesive, said liquid dividing module also controlling the second partial flow to selectively provide full volume flow to said liquid outlet in a first operating state and to selectively provide reduced volume flow to said liquid outlet in a second operating state, said liquid dividing module further including a valve member (118, 214) configured to selectively control the movement of the second partial flow of adhesive to said liquid outlet by moving between an open position enabling communication with said liquid outlet and a closed position enabling communication with said recirculation passage, and a valve chamber communicating with said recirculation passage and housing said valve member (118, 214) therein; and a first internal passage extending directly from said liquid inlet (110, 216) to said liquid outlet, such that the first partial flow of adhesive flows to said liquid outlet without flowing through said valve chamber; and a second internal passage extending from said liquid inlet (110, 216) to said valve chamber, and from said valve chamber to said liquid outlet, such that said valve member (118, 214) closes to block a flow through said second internal passage and thereby direct the flow in said second internal passage to said recirculation passage instead of said liquid outlet; and a dispensing module coupled to said liquid dividing module to receive flow of adhesive from said liquid outlet, said dispensing module including a dispenser outlet and a dispenser valve member selectively enabling and disabling flow from said liquid dividing module to said dispenser outlet; and the recirculation passage comprising an inlet recirculation passage and an outlet recirculation passage, the valve chamber further communicating with the inlet recirculation passage extending from the dispensing module and the outlet recirculation passage leading to the manifold. a manifold including a liquid supply passage and a liquid discharge outlet communicating with said liquid supply passage, said manifold delivering a flow of adhesive through said liquid discharge outlet; a liquid dividing module coupled to said manifold, said liquid dividing module including a liquid inlet (110, 216) communicating with said liquid discharge outlet of said manifold, a liquid outlet, a recirculation passage communicating with said manifold, and internal passages extending between said liquid inlet and said liquid outlet, said liquid dividing module dividing the flow of adhesive from said liquid discharge outlet into a first partial flow of adhesive that continuously moves to said liquid outlet and a second partial flow of adhesive, said liquid dividing module also controlling the second partial flow to selectively provide full volume flow to said liquid outlet in a first operating state and to selectively provide reduced volume flow to said liquid outlet in a second operating state, said liquid dividing module further including a valve member (118, 214) configured to selectively control the movement of the second partial flow of adhesive to said liquid outlet by moving between an open position enabling communication with said liquid outlet and a closed position enabling communication with said recirculation passage, and a valve chamber communicating with said recirculation passage and housing said valve member (118, 214) therein; and a first internal passage extending directly from said liquid inlet (110, 216) to said liquid outlet, such that the first partial flow of adhesive flows to said liquid outlet without flowing through said valve chamber; and a second internal passage extending from said liquid inlet (110, 216) to said valve chamber, and from said valve chamber to said liquid outlet, such that said valve member (118, 214) closes to block a flow through said second internal passage and thereby direct the flow in said second internal passage to said recirculation passage instead of said liquid outlet; and a dispensing module coupled to said liquid dividing module to receive flow of adhesive from said liquid outlet, said dispensing module including a dispenser outlet and a dispenser valve member selectively enabling and disabling flow from said liquid dividing module to said dispenser outlet; and the recirculation passage comprising an inlet recirculation passage and an outlet recirculation passage, the valve chamber further communicating with the inlet recirculation passage extending from the dispensing module and the outlet recirculation passage leading to the manifold.