disassemble

verb

dis·​as·​sem·​ble ˌdis-ə-ˈsem-bəl How to pronounce disassemble (audio)
disassembled; disassembling; disassembles

transitive verb

: to take apart
disassemble a watch

intransitive verb

1
: to come apart
the frame disassembles into sections
2
: disperse, scatter
the crowd began to disassemble
disassembly noun

Examples of disassemble in a Sentence

The bookshelf disassembles for easy storage. they had to disassemble the television set in order to replace the wiring
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Elephants and other big beasts push over trees, trample vegetation underfoot, eat vast amounts of greenery and transport seeds in their dung, disassembling vegetation while unintentionally planting the beginnings of new habitats. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 July 2025 This complex piece was initially created in a single gold hue, then it was carefully disassembled and reassembled by hand in a second tone, resulting in a duality that mirrors the interplay between the sun and the moon. Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 8 July 2025 The machine is made up of four modules, manufactured in Connecticut, California, Germany and the Netherlands, then assembled in the Veldhoven, Netherlands, lab for testing and approval, before being disassembled again to ship out. Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 22 May 2025 Those who purchased the affected highchairs should immediately stop using it, disassemble it and contact Boyro Baby for instructions on how to receive a full refund. Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for disassemble

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of disassemble was in 1881

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Cite this Entry

“Disassemble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disassemble. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

disassemble

verb
dis·​as·​sem·​ble ˌdis-ə-ˈsem-bəl How to pronounce disassemble (audio)
: to take apart
disassemble an engine
disassembly noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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