disposes; disposed; disposing
formal
1
: to cause (someone) to be likely to do or have something
—+ to or toward
His upbringing disposes him to question authority.
people whose genes dispose them toward a particular disease
2
always followed by an adverb or preposition
: to put (someone or something) in a particular position or place
The troops/cottages were disposed [=(more commonly) arranged] along either side of the river.
Cite this Entry
“Dispose.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/dispose. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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