dispatch

verb dis·patch \ di-ˈspach \

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

Definition of dispatch

transitive verb

1 : to send off or away with promptness or speed

dispatch a letter

dispatch an ambulance to the scene

; especially : to send off on official business

dispatch a messenger

2 a : to kill with quick efficiency

dispatched the deer with one shot

b obsolete : deprive

3 : to dispose of (something, such as a task) rapidly or efficiently

anxious to dispatch the matter

… household business could not be dispatched hastily by Mrs. Tulliver.
—George Eliot

4 : defeat 3

easily dispatching each team they played

intransitive verb

archaic : to make haste : hurry

—

dispatcher

noun

See dispatch defined for English-language learners

See dispatch defined for kids

Examples of dispatch in a Sentence

Rescue workers were immediately dispatched to the area.
The hotel dispatched a limo to pick us up from the airport.
He dispatched the guard with one bullet.

Recent Examples of dispatch from the Web

The complex is licensed to dispatch a rocket every 72 hours for the next 30 years.

— The Economist, "Is New Zealand the world’s best rocket-launching site?," 5 Apr. 2018
Senior administration officials acknowledged this week that broad plans have long been on the table to dispatch US troops to the border to assist immigration agents.

— kevin liptak, CNN, "Trump's administration is scrambling to catch up with him," 5 Apr. 2018
The unusual campaign aims to overcome Trump’s inclination to dispatch top officials with little warning.

— Bloomberg.com, "Army of Conservative Allies Rallying to Save Embattled EPA Chief," 5 Apr. 2018
Escondido firefighters and police were dispatched just before 1 p.m.

— city news service, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Children playing with lighter start fire in Escondido church," 19 Mar. 2018
According to the Indianapolis Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched to the location around 10 a.m. Witnesses reported seeing the car go into the water with a woman behind the wheel.

— Indianapolis Star, "'We don’t know why she went into the water': Woman dies after car drives into retention pond," 8 Mar. 2018
Firefighters were dispatched to the fire at 10:44 a.m., after a 911 caller reported the blaze in the 140 block of Harbor Circle.

— laura mcknight, NOLA.com, "2 treated for smoke inhalation after vehicle catches fire at auto shop: NOFD," 28 Feb. 2018
Firefighters from the North Richland Hills Fire-Rescue were dispatched to the scene and transported three people to hospitals in the area.

— prescotte stokes iii, star-telegram, "Driver booked on DWI suspicions in a major crash on the Iron Horse Bridge," 11 Feb. 2018
Firefighters and police were dispatched to the home at 8:09 p.m. for a vehicle fire.

— debi eimer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Fire damages garage on The Strand in Waukesha," 8 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dispatch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of dispatch

Spanish despachar or Italian dispacciare, from Occitan despachar to get rid of, from Middle French despechier to set free, from Old French, from des- dis- + -pechier (as in enpechier to ensnare) — more at impeach

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1517

See Words from the same year

dispatch Synonyms

Phrases

get the better of, knock for a loop;

Synonym Discussion of dispatch

kill, slay, murder, assassinate, dispatch, execute mean to deprive of life. kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner.

- killed in an accident
- frost killed the plants

slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive.

- slew thousands of the Philistines

murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility.

- convicted of murdering a rival

assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives.

- terrorists assassinated the Senator

dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death.

- dispatched the sentry with one bullet

execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty.

- executed by lethal gas

dispatch

noun dis·patch \ di-ˈspach , ˈdis-ˌpach \

Definition of dispatch

1 a : a message sent with speed; especially : an important official message sent by a diplomatic, military, or naval officer

sent a dispatch to headquarters

b : a news item filed (see ⁴file 2b) by a correspondent

dispatches from the war zone

2 : the act of dispatching: such as

a obsolete : dismissal

b : the act of killing

c (1) : prompt settlement (as of an item of business)

Tom Pinch and his sister having to part, for the dispatch of the morning's business …, had no opportunity of discussing the subject at that time.
—Charles Dickens

(2) : quick riddance

d : a sending off : shipment

the immediate dispatch of supplies to the front

3 : promptness and efficiency in performance or transmission

done with dispatch

See dispatch defined for English-language learners

Examples of dispatch in a Sentence

The general sent a dispatch to headquarters.
He requested the immediate dispatch of supplies.
The reporter sent many dispatches from the war zone.

Recent Examples of dispatch from the Web

Tipsters should call the dispatch center at 215-785-4040 or police at 215-785-4052.

— julie shaw, Philly.com, "Bristol police investigate attempted child luring," 3 Nov. 2017
Each email contains the best and buzziest dispatches from the worlds of arts, news, food, and culture, pushed right to your inbox.

— brittany martin, Los Angeles Magazine, "Here’s How to Sign Up for L.A. Mag Newsletters and Live Your Best Life," 16 Oct. 2017
Nick Chrastil Each week, Roads & Kingdoms and Slate publish a new dispatch from around the globe.

— nick chrastil, Slate Magazine, "Of Shrimp and Petroleum," 16 Oct. 2017
The dispatch was unusual in that it was written in the first person, albeit filtered through the North's state media, which are part of propaganda efforts meant to glorify Kim.

— Bloomberg.com, "Kim Jong Un: ‘Deranged’ Trump Will ‘Pay Dearly’ for Threat," 22 Sep. 2017
Meanwhile a third Insitu team was staged Friday in Starkville, Mississippi, ready for dispatch to wherever Hurricane Irma hits in Florida.

— dominic gates, The Seattle Times, "Boeing Insitu drones work to monitor hurricanes, Oregon wildfires," 8 Sep. 2017
The initial dispatch on any call about a gas leak now includes a battalion chief and a fire truck equipped to monitor gas levels in the air.

— matt campbell, kansascity, "‘It has been a great honor’: KC Fire Chief Paul Berardi announces his retirement," 6 Sep. 2017
Today's dispatch from the front lines: Good luck finding a more dogged defender of Christmas' honor than Bill O'Reilly.

— matt miller, Esquire, "The 12 Days of the War on Christmas: Day 33 (Yuletide Apocalypse)," 11 Dec. 2015
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Butler University Police dispatch at (317) 940-9396.

— holly v. hays, Indianapolis Star, "Butler PD investigating armed robbery of 8 students near campus," 18 Oct. 2017

Origin and Etymology of dispatch

see ¹dispatch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1537

See Words from the same year

dispatch Synonyms

Synonyms

communication, message;

Related Words

bulletin, communiqué, report;

memo, memorandum, notice;

epistle, letter, missive, note;

electronic mail, e-mail, voice mail;

intelligence, news, tidings, word;

command, directive, instruction, order;

Synonym Discussion of dispatch

haste, hurry, speed, expedition, dispatch mean quickness in movement or action. haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness.

- marry in haste

hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion.

- in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush

speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action.

- exercises to increase your reading speed

expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters.

- the case came to trial with expedition
- paid bills with dispatch

DISPATCH Defined for English Language Learners

dispatch

verb

Definition of dispatch for English Language Learners

: to send (someone or something) quickly to a particular place for a particular purpose
: to defeat (a person or team) in a game, contest, etc.
: to kill (a person or animal) quickly

dispatch

noun

Definition of dispatch for English Language Learners

: an important official message
: the act of sending someone or something to a particular place for a particular purpose
: a news story that a reporter sends to a newspaper usually from a foreign country

DISPATCH Defined for Kids

dispatch

verb dis·patch \ di-ˈspach \

Definition of dispatch for Students

dispatched; dispatching

1 : to send away quickly to a certain place or for a certain reason

The general dispatched a messenger.

2 : to get done quickly

She dispatched one job and moved to the next.

3 : ¹kill 1

dispatch a sick animal

—

dispatcher

noun

dispatch

noun

Definition of dispatch for Students

1 : message 1 Send a dispatch to headquarters.

2 : a news story sent in to a newspaper

3 : ¹speed 1

You must act with dispatch.

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dispatch

Definition of dispatch

dispatcher

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Origin and Etymology of dispatch

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Synonyms

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Synonym Discussion of dispatch

dispatch

Definition of dispatch

Examples of dispatch in a Sentence

Recent Examples of dispatch from the Web

Origin and Etymology of dispatch

dispatch Synonyms

Synonyms

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Synonym Discussion of dispatch

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DISPATCH Defined for English Language Learners

dispatch

Definition of dispatch for English Language Learners

dispatch

Definition of dispatch for English Language Learners

DISPATCH Defined for Kids

dispatch

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dispatcher

dispatch

Definition of dispatch for Students

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