debark

¹ American  

[dih-bahrk] / dɪˈbɑrk /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to disembark.

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debark ² American  

[dee-bahrk] / diˈbɑrk /

verb (used with object)

1. to remove the bark from (a log).

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debark ¹ British  

/ ˌdiːbɑːˈkeɪʃən, dɪˈbɑːk /

verb

1. a less common word for disembark

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debark ² British  

/ diːˈbɑːk /

verb

1. (tr) to remove the bark from (a tree)

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Other Word Forms

• debarkation noun
• debarker noun

Etymology

Origin of debark¹

1645–55; < French débarquer, equivalent to dé- dis- ¹ + barque bark ³ + -er infinitive suffix

Origin of debark²

First recorded in 1735–45; de- + bark ²

Example Sentences

A Sept. 19 Emirates flight from San Francisco to Dubai had to abort its departure to allow several panicky passengers to debark, according to Bloomberg.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 24, 2025

These men waiting to debark on Vancouver Island would most likely have sent for their wives to join them later.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

The main ordeal for passengers, as Ms. Margarett recounted, was the wait for maintenance to fix the tires so people could debark.

From Washington Times • Jul. 20, 2022

Forest owners in the Czech Republic are overwhelmed and lack the workers and equipment to cut down affected trees and take away or debark all the timber, which is necessary to slow the infestation.

From Reuters • Apr. 26, 2019

“Where—what are we doing?” and Heidi doesn’t even allow the next elevator car of people to debark.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle