Disposing

/dɪˈspoʊzɪŋ/

verbmedium📊CommonGeneral
3 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

To get rid of or throw away something, typically by assigning it to a particular place or by selling it.

/dɪˈspoʊzɪŋ/

verbneutralmedium
General

To get rid of something

The company is disposing of its old computers.

💡 Simply: Imagine you have an old toy you don't want anymore. Disposing of it is like deciding what to do with it – throwing it away, giving it to someone, or selling it. For example, you might be disposing of your trash every week.

👶 For kids: Getting rid of something you don't need anymore, like throwing away your old toys.

More Examples

2

He carefully disposed of the evidence.

3

They are responsible for disposing of the toxic chemicals safely.

4

She was disposing of her inheritance wisely by investing in real estate.

How It's Used

Environmental Science

"The city is working on proper methods for disposing of hazardous waste."

Household

"She's disposing of old clothes by donating them to a charity."

2

To deal with or settle a matter; to arrange or put into a particular order.

/dɪˈspoʊzɪŋ/

verbneutralAdvanced
Legal

To arrange or deal with something.

The court is still disposing of the case.

💡 Simply: Imagine you have a bunch of tasks you need to do. Disposing of them is like making decisions and taking actions to handle each task, like the way a judge handles legal cases.

👶 For kids: To take care of something or decide what to do with it, like when you decide where to put your toys.

More Examples

2

How did you dispose of the argument?

3

The manager quickly disposed of the complaints.

4

The team is disposing of all the challenges efficiently.

How It's Used

Legal

"The judge is still disposing of the remaining cases from last month."

Business

"The CEO is disposing of the company's assets to raise capital."

Tip:Think of DIS-tributing POS-itions or arranging.
3

To make someone inclined to do something, or to have a particular attitude or feeling.

/dɪˈspoʊzɪŋ/

verbneutralAdvanced
General

To make someone inclined to do something

The experience disposed him to be more cautious.

💡 Simply: Imagine you encourage a friend to go with you to a concert. Disposing someone is about creating the state of mind or inclination for your friend to join. For example, your friend might be disposed to go if they love the band.

👶 For kids: To make someone want to do something or feel a certain way, like making your friend excited for ice cream.

More Examples

2

Her kindness disposed me to trust her.

3

A difficult childhood can dispose a person to depression.

4

The sunny weather disposed us to take a walk in the park.

How It's Used

Psychology

"His positive attitude disposed him to happiness."

Literature

"The tragedy of Hamlet disposed him to take revenge."

Tip:Think of DIS-posing someone to POS-itive action.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

dispose of something

To get rid of something; to deal with something.

"She quickly disposed of the evidence."

From Middle English *disposen*, from Old French *disposer* (“to arrange, dispose”), from Latin *disponō* (“to arrange, dispose”), from *dis-* (“apart, away”) + *pōnō* (“to place”).

The term 'dispose' and its inflections have been in use since the 14th century, evolving from its original meaning of 'to arrange' to the modern connotations of getting rid of or settling a matter.

Memory tip

Think of DIS-carding and POS-ting things away.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to place or put"

disposing of wastedisposing of assetsdisposing of evidencedisposing of a casedisposed to actiondisposed to believedisposed to cooperate

Common misspellings

dispossingdispozingdisposingg

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written