Word
dispose
Phoneticsdis·pose
US/dɪˈspoʊz/
UK/dɪspˈəʊz/
Definitions
01to get rid of
v. to throw something away or get rid of it, especially something you no longer want or need.
v. to get rid of or eliminate something. This sense is almost always used with the preposition 'of'.
“The company must find a safe way to dispose of its chemical waste.”
“The hospital follows strict protocols to dispose of biological hazards, ensuring that no contaminated materials enter the local water supply.”
Formal
Usage
Always takes the preposition 'of' when meaning to discard something.
Pitfall
He disposed the old newspapers.
He disposed of the old newspapers.
When you mean 'to throw away', you must use the preposition 'of' after the verb.
Teaching tip
This is the most common modern use of the word. Students often forget the 'of'.
02to arrange
v. to put things in a particular order or position.
v. to distribute or arrange items in a particular order or position. Transitive use.
“The soldiers were disposed along the river to guard the bridge.”
“The interior designer disposed the furniture in a way that maximised natural light while maintaining a clear path to the balcony.”
Formal · Literary
Usage
Used as a transitive verb without 'of'.
Teaching tip
This sense is quite formal and often appears in military or artistic descriptions.
Antonyms
03to incline or influence
v. to make someone feel a certain way or have a particular opinion.
v. to make someone liable or inclined to a certain attitude, action, or condition.
“Her friendly manner disposed me to like her immediately.”
“A lack of sleep can dispose a person to making poor decisions during high-stakes negotiations.”
Academic · Formal
Usage
Often used in the passive voice ('be disposed to') or with a direct object and a 'to' infinitive.
Teaching tip
In academic writing, 'predispose' is often used as a more specific alternative for medical or psychological contexts.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“The public have been urged not to light an open fires and to dispose of cigarettes carefully.” “Finally, half of the people struggled with how to engage the safety features on the needles and properly dispose of them .” Etymology
From French disposer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/dispose