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 of disengage

• 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

This indicates that sustained remote presence can help prevent students from disengaging entirely from school. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025

The father disengaged from the physical altercation with his son and retreated behind the uniformed police officers. —CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025

According to Zabel, Rob and Michele Reiner sought additional support rather than disengaging. —Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 20 Dec. 2025

On the contrary, by allowing Washington to disengage politically and militarily from Yemen, the truce has given the Houthis an opportunity to escalate its battles against its internal and regional enemies at a lower cost. —April Longley Alley, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 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