dilapidate

[ dih-lap-i-deyt ]

See synonyms for: dilapidate dilapidated dilapidating dilapidation on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),di·lap·i·dat·ed, di·lap·i·dat·ing.

to cause or allow (a building, automobile, etc.) to fall into a state of disrepair, as by misuse or neglect (often used passively): The house had been dilapidated by neglect.
Archaic. to squander; waste.

verb (used without object),di·lap·i·dat·ed, di·lap·i·dat·ing.

to fall into ruin or decay.

Origin of dilapidate

1560–70; <Medieval Latin dīlapidātus, past participle of dīlapidāre to squander (compare dīlapidātiō disrepair), Latin: to pelt with stones; see di-², lapidate

Other words from dilapidate

di·lap·i·da·tion, noun
di·lap·i·da·tor, noun

Words Nearby dilapidate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dilapidate in a sentence

Smilash had immediately promised to dilapidate it to its former state at the end of the year.
An Unsocial Socialist | George Bernard Shaw
Everything about the villain stream has a dilapidate, broken-down air: the very mud of the Spider Water is rusty.
Held for Orders | Frank H. Spearman

British Dictionary definitions for dilapidate

dilapidate

/ (dɪˈlæpɪˌdeɪt) /

verb

to fall or cause to fall into ruin or decay

Origin of dilapidate

C16: from Latin dīlapidāre to scatter, waste, from dis- apart + lapidāre to stone, throw stones, from lapis stone

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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