dispose of

phrase

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

Examples of dispose of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Always dispose of infected plant debris, but consider leaving some non-diseased leaves for bees and butterflies. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 6 Nov. 2026

For campaign staffers and volunteers, that means taking down and disposing of all those political signs. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026

If our minds are constantly running at full throttle, potentially harmful molecules might keep piling up faster than the brain can dispose of them. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026

Los Angeles plans to add 65 public trash cans in Koreatown after residents complained of overflowing bins and long stretches without places to dispose of litter. — Hanna Kang, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Rhymes for dispose of

• hereinabove
• above
• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• dove
• glove
• love
• shove

Legal Definition

dispose of

transitive verb

dis·​pose of

disposed of; disposing of

1

: to transfer to the control or ownership of another

disposed of the property by will

2

: to deal with conclusively : determine finally

received petitions for injunctions…The common theme in disposing of these

—W. J. Brennan, Jr.