dispose

[ dih-spohz ]

/ dɪˈspoʊz /

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See synonyms for: dispose / disposed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), dis·posed, dis·pos·ing.

to give a tendency or inclination to; incline: His temperament disposed him to argue readily with people.

to put in a particular or the proper order or arrangement; adjust by arranging the parts.

to put in a particular or suitable place: The lamp was disposed on a table nearby.

to make fit or ready; prepare: Your words of cheer dispose me for the task.

verb (used without object), dis·posed, dis·pos·ing.

to arrange or decide matters: to do as God disposes.

Obsolete. to make terms.

noun

Archaic. disposition; habit.

Obsolete. arrangement; regulation; disposal.

Verb Phrases

dispose of,

to deal with conclusively; settle.
to get rid of; discard.
to transfer or give away, as by gift or sale.
to do away with; destroy.

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Origin of dispose

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French disposer, equivalent to dis- dis-¹ + poser “to place” (see pose¹), on the model of Latin dispōnere

OTHER WORDS FROM dispose

dis·pos·ing·ly, adverbre·dis·pose, verb (used with object), re·dis·posed, re·dis·pos·ing.

Words nearby dispose

disposable goods, disposable income, disposable personal income, disposable soma theory, disposal, dispose, disposed, dispose of, disposer, disposition, dispositional

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

How to use dispose in a sentence

Nothing much to use in cleaning up the baby and his mother after the birth, no place to dispose of the placenta.
Jesus Wasn’t Born Rich. Think About It.|Gene Robinson|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Jewish Week reported that sources said Hynes was expected to dispose of the case with a lenient plea deal.
The Orthodox Sex Abuse Crackdown That Wasn’t|Emily Shire|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And with so many pigs dying, farms have been challenged to try to find hygienic ways to dispose of the carcasses.
Aporkalypse Now: Pig-Killing Virus Could Mean the End of Bacon|Carrie Arnold|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He wanted to make sure that he had the maximum amount of time to attack his victim and dispose of her body.
A Serial Killer on the Loose in Nazi Berlin|Scott Andrew Selby|January 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Japanese team then folded, allowing Rong Guotuan quickly to dispose of his last opponent.
How to Hide a Famine with Ping-Pong|Nicholas Griffin|January 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But its use as such is to dispose of any such idea as that there is a natural price of coal or of anything else.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
My object was to dispose of a cargo of cotton which I had brought from Realejo, and to purchase sugar in return.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
Truce now, Gregory; and consider how we can best dispose ourselves here, till the morning.
The Battle of Hexham;|George Colman
During this journey I was an eye-witness of the manner in which the missionaries dispose of their religious tracts.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
His creature has no right to ask the reason of His conduct; He can dispose at will of the works of His hands.
Superstition In All Ages (1732)|Jean Meslier

British Dictionary definitions for dispose

dispose

/ (dɪˈspəʊz) /

verb

(intr foll by of)

to deal with or settle
to give, sell, or transfer to another
to throw out or away
to consume, esp hurriedly
to kill

to arrange or settle (matters) by placing into correct or final conditionman proposes, God disposes

(tr) to make willing or receptive

(tr) to adjust or place in a certain order or position

(tr often foll by to) to accustom or condition

noun

an obsolete word for disposal, disposition

Derived forms of dispose

disposer, noun

Word Origin for dispose

C14: from Old French disposer, from Latin dispōnere to set in different places, arrange, from dis- 1 + pōnere to place

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

dispose

Origin of dispose

OTHER WORDS FROM dispose

Words nearby dispose

Words related to dispose

How to use dispose in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dispose

Derived forms of dispose

Word Origin for dispose