Meaning & use
disencumber
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitiveformal
To free someone or something from a burden, load or obstacle that was holding them back.
Grammar: Takes an object, often with of or from: disencumber yourself of old worries.
Patterns
- disencumber someone of something
- disencumber someone from something
He wanted to disencumber himself of the clutter that filled his house.
The new manager tried to disencumber the team from outdated rules.
Selling the farm would disencumber her of years of worry.
verbtransitivelegallaw
To clear a property or estate of debts, mortgages or other legal claims against it.
Grammar: Takes an object, usually property: disencumber the estate.
Patterns
- disencumber something of something
The family sold land to disencumber the estate of its debts.
Paying off the loan disencumbered the property.
The court agreed to disencumber the title after the final payment.
Word forms
| third person singular | disencumbers |
|---|---|
| past tense | disencumbered |
| past participle | disencumbered |
| -ing form | disencumbering |
Common combinations
- disencumber yourself of
- She tried to disencumber herself of unnecessary possessions.
- disencumber the estate
- Selling the house would disencumber the estate.
- disencumber property
- Banks must release a lien to disencumber property.
- disencumber from debt
- The inheritance disencumbered him from debt.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unburden
- Unburden is more personal and emotional, often about telling someone your worries.
- free
- Free is the plain everyday word and works with almost any kind of freedom.
- disentangle
- Disentangle suggests untying something knotted or complicated rather than lifting a load.
- relieve
- Relieve focuses on easing a pressure and does not suggest complete removal like disencumber.
Opposites
Word family
- encumber verb
- to weigh down or restrict
- encumbrance noun
- a burden or legal claim on property
- unencumbered adjective
- free of burdens or claims
- disencumbrance noun
- the act of freeing from a burden
Commonly confused: disencumber or disembark?
disencumber vs disembark
Disembark means to leave a ship or plane and has nothing to do with burdens.
Practice
The sale of her late father's shares helped ___ the family business of its debts.
Choose one answer.
Disencumber means to free from a burden and is used with of. Encumber means the opposite and would add to the debts.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “disencumber”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.