dispose

American  

[dih-spohz] / dɪˈspoʊz /

verb (used with object)

• disposes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• disposed,
  past participle,  past
• disposing
  present participle

1. to give a tendency or inclination to; incline.

   His temperament disposed him to argue readily with people.

2. to put in a particular or the proper order or arrangement; adjust by arranging the parts.

3. to put in a particular or suitable place.

   The lamp was disposed on a table nearby.

4. to make fit or ready; prepare.

   Your words of cheer dispose me for the task.

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verb (used without object)

• disposes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• disposed,
  past participle,  past
• disposing
  present participle

1. to arrange or decide matters.

   to do as God disposes.

2. Obsolete. to make terms.

noun

1. Archaic. disposition; habit.

2. Obsolete. arrangement; regulation; disposal.

verb phrase

1. dispose of

   1. to deal with conclusively; settle.

   2. to get rid of; discard.

   3. to transfer or give away, as by gift or sale.

   4. to do away with; destroy.

dispose British  

/ dɪˈspəʊz /

verb

1. 1. to deal with or settle

   2. to give, sell, or transfer to another

   3. to throw out or away

   4. to consume, esp hurriedly

   5. to kill

2. to arrange or settle (matters) by placing into correct or final condition

   man proposes, God disposes

3. (tr) to make willing or receptive

4. (tr) to adjust or place in a certain order or position

5. to accustom or condition

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noun

1. an obsolete word for disposal disposition

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• disposer
  noun
• redispose
  verb (used with object)
• disposingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• disposing
  present
• disposed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• dispose
  simple
• disposes
  simple
• have disposed
  perfect
• has disposed
  perfect
• am disposing
  progressive
• are disposing
  progressive
• is disposing
  progressive
• have been disposing
  perfect progressive
• has been disposing
  perfect progressive

Past

• disposed
  simple
• had disposed
  perfect
• was disposing
  progressive
• were disposing
  progressive
• had been disposing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will dispose
  simple
• will have disposed
  perfect
• will be disposing
  progressive
• will have been disposing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of dispose

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French disposer, equivalent to dis- dis- ¹ + poser “to place” ( see pose ¹), on the model of Latin dispōnere

Explanation

If you dispose of something, you get rid of it. Don't want that sweatshirt with the clown's face on it? Give it away, throw it out, even sell it — these are all ways to dispose of that awful shirt. The verb dispose comes from the Latin word disponere, meaning “put in order,” “arrange,” or “distribute" — like when you dispose volunteers to collect trash at a park. The word of usually follows dispose when it means "getting rid of something." Another meaning is "make willing or open to something," like your childhood love of reading that disposes you to becoming a life-long reader.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dispose disposes disposed disposing

But it also has a large residential population, who have become increasingly exasperated with tourists who fail to properly dispose of rubbish, smoke where they're not supposed to, and make too much noise.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

The researchers found that tissue-resident macrophages, a type of immune cell that lives permanently within organs, become less able with age to dispose of another class of immune cells.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 3, 2026

The 95-year-old said he will dispose of his remaining stock over the next eight years.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Jegede said if the leaves or fruit are too delicate to wash or ash is still visible, it would be best to dispose of the produce.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

“You are indeed in trouble. However, I believe I shall leave it to your parents to administer whatever discipline and reproach they believe to be needed. In the meantime, I need to dispose of this.”

From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

Along the way, Mr. Pinsker disposes of some stubborn myths.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026

But instead of deciding the case at the end of June when the court ordinarily disposes of the cases heard during the term, the court set the case up for re-argument.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2025

Do they think there is some sort of pickup service that comes along and disposes of their carefully collected excrement?

From Seattle Times ● May 3, 2024

La Mariana said in addition to waste and recycling material, it takes electronic waste and disposes of it for free for residents.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2023

Collectively, the Party owns everything in Oceania, because it controls everything and disposes of the products as it thinks fit.

From "1984" by George Orwell

“The beach and Pacific Coast Highway were momentarily shut down while the ordnance was disposed of in place,” the post stated.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026

The office intends to have an environmental contractor remove the lithium batteries, which it says will be properly disposed of.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

After the Second World War ended, the Allies disposed of tons of ammunition by dumping it into the ocean so it could not fall into the wrong hands.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026

And California recently enacted a law requiring retailers to manage how clothing waste is disposed of, in a bid to keep clothes from further bloating landfills.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

“If I understand Mr. Cawson aright, the Master and his guests won’t be disposed to linger once they know you’re here. Shall I take the coffee tray?”

From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman

To avoid bear encounters, Fish and Wildlife recommends removing unsecured food from cars and tents, using bear-resistant food canisters or bear lockers, and regularly disposing trash.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

Long said he wanted a rebate as he had been required to pay council tax since moving in and despite disposing of rubbish in skips provided by the estate developer.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

Properly collecting and disposing of spent fireworks could help reduce these environmental effects.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 4, 2026

Merely disposing of the “highly enriched uranium” doesn’t work when enrichment even to the low-seeming 3.67% is already 70% of the way to weapons-grade.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

“Tell me,” I asked Nemur, “I just got a look at your incinerator for disposing of experimental animals. What plans have been made for me?”

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

Related Words

• adapt
• incline
• predispose
• tempt