dispose

1 of 2

verb

dis·​pose di-ˈspōz How to pronounce dispose (audio)
disposed; disposing

transitive verb

1
: to give a tendency to : incline
faulty diet disposes one to sickness
2
a
: to put in place : set in readiness : arrange
disposing troops for withdrawal
b
: bestow
c
obsolete : regulate

intransitive verb

1
: to settle a matter finally
2
obsolete : to come to terms
disposer noun

dispose

2 of 2

noun

1
obsolete : disposal
2
obsolete
b
Phrases
dispose of
1
a(1)
: to get rid of
how to dispose of toxic waste
(2)
: to deal with conclusively
disposed of the matter efficiently
b
: to transfer to the control of another
disposing of personal property to a total stranger
2
: to place, distribute, or arrange especially in an orderly way
disposing of the weapons in the new fort
Choose the Right Synonym for dispose

incline, bias, dispose, predispose mean to influence one to have or take an attitude toward something.

incline implies a tendency to favor one of two or more actions or conclusions.

I incline to agree

bias suggests a settled and predictable leaning in one direction and connotes unfair prejudice.

the experience biased him against foreigners

dispose suggests an affecting of one's mood or temper so as to incline one toward something.

her nature disposes her to trust others

predispose implies the operation of a disposing influence well in advance of the opportunity to manifest itself.

does fictional violence predispose them to accept real violence?

Examples of dispose in a Sentence

Verb looking for the perfect spot to dispose the new knickknack disposed the surgical instruments in the exact order in which they would be needed
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
All this mess would be sorted and sent to different waste centers to responsibly dispose of the material, according to Cain. Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Anderson, who has pleaded guilty to related charges of wire fraud and fraudulent use of identification, testified that Martin dismembered the victim’s corpse in the bathtub, before the pair disposed the body parts in Canarsie Park on April 8 and 9, 2018. Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 Nena Nix, 40, is charged with a class E felony after disposing of a corpse near the intersection of Duncan Road and Sweeney Road in Jackson County on Feb. 3, prosecutors allege, without properly reporting the location of the body to police. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024 Atencio helped dispose of Joseph Brinson’s body after the 28-year-old was shot to death in his rural Jefferson County home on Jan. 16, 2019. Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2024 Even so, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise disposing of the meat from a CWD-positive deer, as do wildlife biologists, state agencies, and conservation groups. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024 Authorities shared their concerns, suspecting that three prison escapees from Grenada may have hijacked their yacht and sailed to Saint Vincent after disposing of the couple. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 The umbilical cord is normally disposed of as medical waste. Allen Goldberg, STAT, 27 Feb. 2024 Doherty said it will be alleged that Lamarre-Condon hired a van later Monday that was used to dispose of the bodies. Chris Lau, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dispose.' 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

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French desposer, from Latin disponere to arrange (perfect indicative disposui), from dis- + ponere to put — more at position

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dispose was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near dispose

Cite this Entry

“Dispose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispose. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dispose

verb
dis·​pose
dis-ˈpōz
disposed; disposing
1
: incline entry 1 sense 2
I was not disposed to go to the meeting
2
: to put in place or in readiness : arrange
you'll need more room to dispose your legs comfortably
disposer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dispose

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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