English Reference

Word

disposing

Phoneticsdis·pos·ing

US/dɪˈspoʊzɪŋ/

UK/dɪspˈəʊzɪŋ/

Definition

v. to get rid of something that you do not want or need anymore. You often use this when talking about throwing away trash or selling property.

v. to get rid of something by throwing it away, giving it to someone else, or selling it. In legal and formal contexts, it refers to the final settlement or transfer of property and assets.

Examples

“The factory must find a safe way of disposing of chemical waste.”

“The court spent several months disposing of the various assets mentioned in the deceased man's will.”

“Properly disposing of electronic components requires specialized facilities to prevent heavy metals from leaching into the soil and contaminating the local water supply.”

Examples

simple

“The factory must find a safe way of disposing of chemical waste.”

contextual

“The court spent several months disposing of the various assets mentioned in the deceased man's will.”

complex

“Properly disposing of electronic components requires specialized facilities to prevent heavy metals from leaching into the soil and contaminating the local water supply.”

Usage

The verb is intransitive in this sense and must be followed by the preposition 'of'.

Pitfall

He is disposing the old furniture.

He is disposing of the old furniture.

The verb requires the preposition 'of' when it means to get rid of something.

Real-World Examples

“Disposing of the empty packaging poses a similar challenge.”
The Conversation · 25 Aug 2026
“Properly collecting and disposing of spent fireworks could help reduce these environmental effects.”
ScienceDaily · 4 Jul 2026

Domain

Law

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/disposing

English Reference