disengage

verb

dis·​en·​gage ˌdis-in-ˈgāj How to pronounce disengage (audio)
disengaged; disengaging; disengages

transitive verb

: to release from something that engages or involves

intransitive verb

: to release or detach oneself : withdraw
disengagement noun

Examples of disengage in a Sentence

The two dancers moved together in a series of quick movements before disengaging and leaping apart. Put the car in gear, and then slowly disengage the clutch while pressing on the gas pedal. If there is a malfunction, the gears will automatically disengage.
Recent Examples on the Web Brands that ignore the need for specific Hispanic marketing plans risk over the years to disengage the segment that represented 51% of the country's population growth, according to the last census results. Isaac Mizrahi, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024 Should something like this happen in the future, what is a polite but FIRM way to disengage a chatty stranger, short of simply putting in my ear buds and ignoring him or her? Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024 Should something like this happen in the future, what is a polite but FIRM way to disengage a chatty stranger, short of simply putting in my earbuds and ignoring him or her? Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024 Due to an issue in the design of a certain brake clutch disc, the brake clutch discs may not immediately disengage from the plates, allowing some engine power to continue to transfer to the wheels. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics, says that managers need to set clear targets to stop workers from feeling disconnected and disengaged. Michal Lev-Ram, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024 Putin benefits heavily from apathy; most Russians have never witnessed a democratic transfer of power between rival political parties in a traditional presidential election, and expressions of anger at the Kremlin are rare enough to keep much of the population disengaged from politics. Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 According to a Gallup research, the level of engagement can be categorized into four levels: actively engaged, engaged, disengaged, and actively disengaged. Luciana Paulise, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 And, from watching a snake dig its fangs into his arm ― and watching her old friend treat it like something less than a mosquito bite, waiting for the snake to disengage in its own sweet time. Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 16 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disengage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French désengager, from Middle French, from des- dis- + engager to engage

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of disengage was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near disengage

Cite this Entry

“Disengage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disengage. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

disengage

verb
dis·​en·​gage ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈgāj How to pronounce disengage (audio)
: to free or release from an engagement, entanglement, or burden
disengage an automobile clutch
disengagement noun

More from Merriam-Webster on disengage

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