Word
disembark
Phoneticsdis·em·bark, stress on the third syllable
US/dɪsɛmˈbɑɹk/
UK/dˌɪsɛmbˈɑːk/
Definition
v. to leave a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle at the end of a journey.
v. to leave a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle after a journey; to go ashore from a vessel.
Examples
“Passengers should wait for the signal to disembark.”
“After the plane landed, it took nearly thirty minutes for the passengers to disembark and reach the terminal.”
“The cruise line requires all guests to disembark by 10:00 AM to allow the crew sufficient time to prepare the cabins for the next voyage.”
Examples
simple
“Passengers should wait for the signal to disembark.”
contextual
“After the plane landed, it took nearly thirty minutes for the passengers to disembark and reach the terminal.”
complex
“The cruise line requires all guests to disembark by 10:00 AM to allow the crew sufficient time to prepare the cabins for the next voyage.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “disembark” in context.
Verb
01. allow to disembark
“The authorities refused to allow the passengers to disembark until health checks were completed.”
verb + to + verb
02. disembark at port
“The tourists will disembark at the next port to explore the island.”
verb + prep + noun
03. disembark from ferry
“It took nearly an hour for all the vehicles to disembark from the ferry.”
verb + prep + noun
04. disembark from plane
“Passengers were asked to disembark from the plane via the rear stairs.”
verb + prep + noun
05. order to disembark
“The captain ordered the crew to disembark immediately after the ship docked.”
verb + to + verb
Noun
06. opportunity to disembark
“The short stop gave travelers a brief opportunity to disembark and stretch their legs.”
noun + to + verb
07. permission to disembark
“The ship waited in the harbor while the captain sought permission to disembark.”
noun + to + verb
08. be free to disembark
“Once the gangway is secure, all passengers will be free to disembark.”
09. disembark from the aircraft
“Please have your passports ready as you disembark from the aircraft.”
10. prepare to disembark
“The cabin crew requested that everyone prepare to disembark shortly.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive, though it can be used transitively in formal contexts ('to disembark the passengers').
Real-World Examples
“Hundreds have now disembarked from the cruise liner docked in Yokohama.” “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greeted a planeload of weary Syrian refugees landing in Toronto early Friday, telling the first to disembark that “you’re safe at home now” as he handed them winter coats.” “All 3,200 passengers have now disembarked from a crippled cruise ship that reached the US coast five days after an engine fire knocked out power.” “Carnival officials said it could take up to five hours for the more than 4,200 people on board to disembark the ship, which has only one working elevator.” Etymology
First recorded in the 1570s, from the prefix dis- and the verb embark. The term follows the pattern of the Middle French desbarquer, though its immediate English construction is a simple matter of reversal. The form has remained stable since the late sixteenth century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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