disengage

verb

dis·​en·​gage ˌdis-in-ˈgāj 

disengaged; disengaging; disengages

transitive verb

: to release from something that engages or involves

intransitive verb

: to release or detach oneself : withdraw

disengagement

ˌdis-in-ˈgāj-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• liberate
• free
• extricate
• save
• redeem
• disentangle
• release
• rescue
• cut loose

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

Most Black women – 67% – have disengaged from the news entirely just to protect their peace—a striking act of self-preservation in a country that expects Black women to keep pushing without pause. —Essence, 17 June 2025

This understanding identifies key influence moments and potential friction points where prospects might disengage. —Maria Youth, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

The interviewers seemed disengaged, barely looking up from their notes. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025

Sensational headlines and rage bait are designed to exploit Internet algorithms, and are good signals to disengage, question the content or get a parent’s opinion. —Evan Orticio, Scientific American, 2 June 2025

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

Rhymes for disengage

• interstage
• macrophage
• multistage
• age
• gauge
• phage
• plage
• rage
• stage
• wage
• alienage
• assuage

Kids Definition

disengage

verb

dis·​en·​gage ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈgāj 

: to free or release from an engagement, entanglement, or burden

disengage an automobile clutch

disengagement

-mənt 

noun