Meaning & use
dispatched
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“dispatched” is a form of “dispatch”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Sent off to a particular place for a purpose, such as a person, vehicle, message or package.
Grammar: Takes an object: the company dispatched a truck.
Patterns
- dispatched someone to somewhere
- dispatched something to someone
The company dispatched a repair crew to the flooded building.
Two police cars were dispatched within minutes of the call.
Her order was dispatched on Monday and arrived on Thursday.
verbtransitiveformal
Dealt with or finished something quickly and efficiently.
Grammar: Takes an object: she dispatched the paperwork.
Patterns
- dispatched a task
- dispatched an opponent
He dispatched his emails before lunch.
The champion dispatched her rival in straight sets.
The committee dispatched the whole agenda in twenty minutes.
verbtransitiveformaleuphemistic
Killed a person or animal, usually swiftly.
Grammar: Takes an object, often in formal or literary writing: the vet dispatched the animal.
Patterns
- dispatched an animal
The farmer dispatched the injured animal quickly and humanely.
In the novel, the guard is dispatched without a sound.
Word forms
| base form | dispatch |
|---|---|
| third person singular | dispatches |
| past tense | dispatched |
| -ing form | dispatching |
Common combinations
- dispatched to the scene
- Paramedics were dispatched to the scene of the accident.
- quickly dispatched
- The task was quickly dispatched by the new team.
- dispatched by courier
- The documents were dispatched by courier this morning.
- dispatched a message
- The captain dispatched a message to headquarters.
- dispatched a team
- The charity dispatched a team to help with the relief effort.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sent
- Sent is plainer and works for any situation, while dispatched suggests speed, organization or an official process.
- deployed
- Deployed is used for moving troops or equipment into position, whereas dispatched is about sending something off to a destination.
- shipped
- Shipped is for goods, and does not fit people, so dispatched is more flexible.
- finished off
- Finished off is informal for completing a task, while dispatched sounds brisk and formal.
Opposites
Word family
- dispatch verb
- to send off or to finish quickly
- dispatch noun
- the act of sending, or an official report or message
- dispatcher noun
- a person who sends out vehicles or messages
- dispatch rider noun
- a messenger who carries documents by motorcycle
Commonly confused: dispatched or dispersed? dispatched or despatched?
dispatched vs dispersed
Dispersed means spread out in different directions, whereas dispatched means sent to a particular place for a purpose.
dispatched vs despatched
This is an older British spelling of dispatched; the form with i is now standard everywhere.
Practice
The ambulance was ___ to the address within two minutes.
Choose one answer.
Dispatched means sent off for a purpose. Dispersed means scattered, which is a tempting wrong choice, and displayed or disposed do not fit an ambulance.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dispatched”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.