dismantle
Americanverb (used with object)
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dismantles,
present (3rd person singular)
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dismantled,
past participle, past
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dismantling
present participle
-
to deprive or strip of apparatus, furniture, equipment, defenses, etc..
to dismantle a ship; to dismantle a fortress.
-
to disassemble or pull down; take apart.
They dismantled the machine and shipped it in pieces.
-
to divest of dress, covering, etc..
The wind dismantled the trees of their leaves.
verb
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to take apart
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to demolish or raze
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to strip of covering
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
dismantlesimple
-
dismantlessimple
-
have dismantledperfect
-
has dismantledperfect
-
am dismantlingprogressive
-
are dismantlingprogressive
-
is dismantlingprogressive
-
have been dismantlingperfect progressive
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has been dismantlingperfect progressive
Past
-
dismantledsimple
-
had dismantledperfect
-
was dismantlingprogressive
-
were dismantlingprogressive
-
had been dismantlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dismantle
From the Middle French word desmanteler, dating back to 1570–80. See dis- 1, mantle
Explanation
To take something apart or down is to dismantle it. If you dismantle a computer to see what it looks like inside, you better know how to put it back together, or you might be looking at the inside of your room for awhile. Dismantle is a verb used for both physical things and ideas. You can dismantle a campground by taking down the tents and breaking apart the fire logs, or you can dismantle a government by going against its leadership and bringing down its rule. Often when you dismantle something, you take away its ability to work, as with a nuclear warhead, but you can also take apart decorative or non-working things, as when you dismantle a science-fair display or a city made of blocks.
Vocabulary lists containing dismantle
The Alchemist
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "D"
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A Long Way Gone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"If you build a cybercrime empire, we will find you, dismantle your operation, and hold you accountable," said US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
The misconduct investigation has put the institution under a glaring spotlight, intensified divisions inside it and played out alongside an unprecedented campaign to weaken, and in fact dismantle, the ICC in its entirety.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
It directs every relevant agency to investigate and dismantle its operations.
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026
The U.S. is working to dismantle barriers to international data flows.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
I dismantle the original lights, bending back the nails that hold the power cord.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
The move dismantles the bet on convergence Roberts made 15 years ago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
The split effectively dismantles a 15-year strategy built on vertical integration.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
Justice Elena Kagan’s majority opinion on Monday dismantles that theory piece by piece.
From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026
Among the many quotes Ross left with his audience is one that dismantles intimidating concepts about natural ability, the kind of artistic gatekeeping we often impose on ourselves.
From Salon ● May 2, 2026
He dismantles the machine, stares into its circuits, lets his fingers trace the journeys of electrons.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
It contained its own complete production line, including a drying turbine -- but wasn't as big as another recently dismantled facility that employed some 50 people.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
The Seagram empire eventually was dismantled and sold off, with Diageo ending up with the Crown Royal brand.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
They also dismantled Manchester City in The Community Shield, and have had an excellent transfer window to build on last season's success, when the Premier League was won and they reached the Champions League Final.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Libya dismantled its nuclear program in 2003 amid heavy sanctions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
The weapon’s components, a piece of wood and a length of hard wire, were originally part of a toilet brush he’d confiscated, dismantled and hidden under his mattress.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
“The same time we’re talking about security partnerships, we’re seeing a dismantling of the judicial tools to fight crime,” she added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
Parton, who died Tuesday at age 80, made a career out of building illusions she delighted in dismantling.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
For 58 seasons, through wars, impeachments and the corporate dismantling of the network news business around it, “60 Minutes” remained America’s highest-rated newsmagazine.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
Armando Novoa, the government representative who negotiated with the group, has sought to reassure them that legal protections prevent De la Espriella from dismantling the accord.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
He seems interested in the new walkway the workers have laid and also in the dismantling and rebuilding of our chimney.
From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
