dispatch

American  

[dih-spach] / dɪˈspætʃ /

Or despatch

verb (used with object)

dispatches, present (3rd person singular) dispatched, past participle, past dispatching present participle

1. to send off or away with speed, as a messenger, telegram, body of troops, etc.

2. to dismiss (a person), as after an audience.

3. to put to death; kill.

   The spy was promptly dispatched.

4. to transact or dispose of (a matter) promptly or speedily.

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verb (used without object)

dispatches, present (3rd person singular) dispatched, past participle, past dispatching present participle

1. Archaic. to hasten; be quick.

noun

1. the sending off of a messenger, letter, etc., to a destination.

2. the act of putting to death; killing; execution.

3. prompt or speedy transaction, as of business.

4. expeditious performance; promptness or speed.

   Proceed with all possible dispatch.

   Synonyms:

   celerity, alacrity, haste, rapidity

5. Commerce.

   1. a method of effecting a speedy delivery of goods, money, etc.

   2. a conveyance or organization for the expeditious transmission of goods, money, etc.

6. a written message sent with speed.

7. an official communication sent by special messenger.

8. Journalism. a news story transmitted to a newspaper, wire service, or the like, by one of its reporters, or by a wire service to a newspaper or other news agency.

idioms

1. mentioned in dispatches, honored by being named in official military reports for special bravery or acts of service.

dispatch British  

/ dɪˈspætʃ /

verb

1. to send off promptly, as to a destination or to perform a task

2. to discharge or complete (a task, duty, etc) promptly

3. informal to eat up quickly

4. to murder or execute

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noun

1. the act of sending off a letter, messenger, etc

2. prompt action or speed (often in the phrase with dispatch )

3. an official communication or report, sent in haste

4. journalism a report sent to a newspaper, etc, by a correspondent

5. murder or execution

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undispatching
  adjective
• dispatcher
  noun
• self-dispatch
  noun
• outdispatch
  verb (used with object)
• redispatch
  verb (used with object)
• predispatch
  noun
• undispatched
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have dispatched
  perfect
• has dispatched
  perfect 3rd person singular
• has been dispatching
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been dispatching
  perfect progressive
• are dispatching
  progressive
• dispatches
  singular 3rd person
• am dispatching
  progressive 1st person singular
• is dispatching
  progressive 3rd person singular
• dispatching
  participle

Past

• had dispatched
  perfect
• was dispatching
  progressive singular
• were dispatching
  progressive plural
• had been dispatching
  perfect progressive
• dispatched
  simple
• dispatched
  participle

Future

• will dispatch
  simple
• will have dispatched
  perfect
• will have been dispatching
  perfect progressive
• will be dispatching
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of dispatch

1510–20; < Italian dispacciare to hasten, speed, or < Spanish despachar both ultimately < Old French despeechier to unshackle, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + -peechier < Late Latin -pedicāre to shackle; see impeach

Explanation

Anything that needs to be mailed, sent off, or quickly shipped needs to be dispatched. Letters, official reports, teams of police — if it has somewhere to be, you can dispatch it to get there. Sometimes spelled despatch, this word was first used in the early 1500s as a verb meaning “to send off in a hurry.” These days we get hurried dispatches in noun and verb form, from journalists sending in their war zone stories to emergency squads getting dispatched to the scene of an accident. And in its most sinister sense, dispatch means to kill off without delay.

Example Sentences

However, the month’s gains “reflected geopolitical relief, not conviction,” Nexo Dispatch analyst Dessislava Ianeva said in a note Monday.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

It was a good night for episodic superhero adventure Dispatch, which was a surprise smash hit when it launched last year.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

The lawyers said Uber internal documents revealed at trial showed that the app’s internal Safety Risk Assessed Dispatch algorithm identified the trip as having an elevated risk of a serious safety incident.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

She is currently based in her home state and has previously written for local Columbus publications, including Columbus Monthly, CityScene Magazine and The Columbus Dispatch.

From Salon • May 10, 2025

The opposite direction of Central Dispatch, which makes sense—of course people don’t live where they work.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• bulletin
• instruction
• missive