disassemble

American  

[dis-uh-sem-buhl] / ˌdɪs əˈsɛm bəl /

verb (used with object)

disassembled, disassembling

1. to take apart.

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verb (used without object)

disassembled, disassembling

1. to come apart.

   These shelves disassemble quickly for easy moving.

disassemble British  

/ ˌdɪsəˈsɛmbəl /

verb

1. (tr) to take apart (a piece of machinery, etc); dismantle

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Other Word Forms

• disassembly
  noun

Etymology

Origin of disassemble

First recorded in 1605–15; dis- ¹ + assemble

Explanation

The verb disassemble means to take something apart. It's one thing to disassemble a computer; it's a whole other thing to put it back together again. If you take your car to the repair shop to have a squeaky brake fixed, you'll be surprised to see the mechanics quickly disassemble your car, removing even its wheels and doors. You can use the word disassemble whenever something's dismantled or broken into pieces. Originally, disassemble meant "to disperse," or to stop a crowd of people from assembling, but the meaning changed to its current definition in the 1600s.

Example Sentences

"I saw this guy literally disassemble himself in front of me, and now I'm seeing him again."

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2025

Afraid conditions would only worsen, leaders announced in May 2024 their plans to disassemble the chapel, a national historic landmark and popular wedding venue.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2025

The project to disassemble and eventually rebuild the chapel is expected to take four years.

From New York Times • May 16, 2024

However, much less is known about the membrane-free organelles that can dynamically assemble and disassemble inside the nucleus, such as the photobodies that help to sense light and temperature in plants.

From Science Daily • May 7, 2024

When we die our atoms will disassemble and move off to find new uses elsewhere–as part of a leaf or other human being or drop of dew.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• dismantle