dispose

Meanings

1. 1verbphrasal verb

   To get rid of something by throwing it away, selling it or otherwise dealing with it.

   Grammar: Always dispose of something; there is no direct object without of: dispose of waste.

   Patterns

   • dispose of something

   Please dispose of batteries at a recycling point.

   They disposed of the old furniture before moving.

   How do you dispose of used cooking oil?

2. 2verbtransitiveformal

   To make someone feel inclined to behave or think in a certain way.

   Grammar: Takes an object plus to: his kindness disposed me to help; often passive.

   Patterns

   • dispose someone to do something
   • dispose someone toward something
   • be disposed to do something

   The good news disposed her to be generous.

   I am not disposed to argue today.

   Early success disposed him toward optimism.

3. 3verbtransitiveformalold-fashioned

   To arrange things or people in a particular order or position.

   Grammar: Takes an object: dispose the troops along the ridge.

   Patterns

   • dispose something in something

   The general disposed his forces along the river.

   The flowers were disposed in a neat circle.

Word forms

Common combinations

dispose of waste

Factories must dispose of waste safely.

dispose of evidence

He tried to dispose of the evidence.

safely dispose of

Safely dispose of old medicine.

be disposed to

She was disposed to forgive him.

Synonyms and how they differ

discard

Throw away something no longer wanted, simpler than dispose of.

incline

Closer to the sense of making someone likely to feel something.

arrange

Common word for putting things in order.

Opposites

Word family

disposal noun

the act of getting rid of something

disposable adjective

meant to be thrown away after use

disposition noun

natural temperament

Commonly confused: dispose or deposit?

Practice

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