disengage
[ dis-en-geyj ]
/ ˌdɪs ɛnˈgeɪdʒ /
verb (used with object), dis·en·gaged, dis·en·gag·ing.
to release from attachment or connection; loosen; unfasten: to disengage a clutch.
to free (oneself) from an engagement, pledge, obligation, etc.: He accepted the invitation, but was later forced to disengage himself.
Military. to break off action with (an enemy).
verb (used without object), dis·en·gaged, dis·en·gag·ing.
to become disengaged; free oneself.
RELATED WORDS
disconnect, disentangle, extricate, dissociate, withdraw, detach, liberate, loosen, disjoin, divide, disassociate, separate, ease, loose, unbind, undo, uncouple, untie, unloose, disunite
Nearby words
- disenchanted,
- disenchantment,
- disencumber,
- disendow,
- disenfranchise,
- disengaged,
- disengagement,
- disenroll,
- disentail,
- disentangle
Origin of disengage
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for disengage
disengage
/ (ˌdɪsɪnˈɡeɪdʒ) /
verb
to release or become released from a connection, obligation, etcpress the clutch to disengage the gears
military to withdraw (forces) from close action
fencing to move (one's blade) from one side of an opponent's blade to another in a circular motion to bring the blade into an open line of attack
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
disengage
c.1600 in figurative sense; 1660s in literal sense of "detach," from dis- "do the opposite of" + engage (q.v.). Related: Disengaged; disengaging.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper