dispose
gb/dɪspˈoʊz/ us/dɪspˈoʊz/
B2
English
~ 6600
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
get rid of something
To throw something away or remove it so you do not have it anymore, often in a safe way.
Usage pattern:
to dispose of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often forget the preposition and say *"dispose something"* instead of the correct *"dispose of something"*. Another mistake is confusing "dispose" with "disposal": "How to disposal waste" is wrong; it should be "How to dispose of waste" or "How to do waste disposal".
Synonyms
discard (Often more direct and informal; commonly used for throwing away everyday things.)
Antonyms
keep (Means to continue to have something instead of getting rid of it.)
Collocations
dispose of waste
|dispose of rubbish
|dispose of garbage
|dispose of hazardous materials
|dispose of evidence
|dispose of nuclear waste
Themes
environment
|daily life
|law
|daily_life
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- You must dispose of batteries at a special recycling center.
- The company failed to dispose of hazardous chemicals properly.
- Residents are encouraged to dispose of garden waste in the brown bins provided.
- She shredded the old documents before disposing of them.
- How should we dispose of this broken furniture?
Learner examples
- Please dispose of your trash in the bin.
- You cannot dispose of old medicine in the sink.
- We must dispose of this oil carefully.
- He disposed of the empty boxes after the move.
- I do not know how to dispose of this computer safely.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
having a tendency or willingness
Feeling or likely to act in a certain way; ready or willing to do something.
Usage pattern:
to be disposed to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "disposed to" with "supposed to" (e.g. *"I am disposed to arrive at 8"* instead of *"I am supposed to arrive at 8"*). Another mistake is leaving out the verb "be" and saying *"I disposed to help"* instead of *"I am disposed to help"*.
Synonyms
inclined (Very close in meaning but slightly more common; can sound a little less formal than "disposed".)
Antonyms
reluctant (Shows that someone is not willing or not happy to do something.)
Collocations
disposed to agree
|disposed to help
|disposed to believe
|disposed to think
|disposed to be critical
Themes
attitude
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I am disposed to agree with your proposal.
- The board is not disposed to take risks at this time.
- She felt kindly disposed to her new neighbors.
- He is generally disposed to believe what experts say.
- The judge was clearly disposed to show leniency.
Learner examples
- I am disposed to help if I can.
- They are not disposed to change the plan.
- She is disposed to believe her friends.
- Our manager is disposed to listen to new ideas.
- The teacher is disposed to be strict with late homework.
Verb
formal
C1
action
3
make someone feel or think a way
To make someone feel or want to act in a certain way.
Usage pattern:
to dispose [someone] to/toward [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with the "throw away" sense and try to use objects instead of people (e.g. *"The rules dispose the waste"*). In this meaning, "dispose" takes a person as its object ("dispose him", "dispose us") and describes a change in attitude, not getting rid of something.
Synonyms
incline (Very close in meaning; often slightly more common in this formal, psychological sense.)
Antonyms
discourage (Makes someone less likely to think or act in a certain way, which is the opposite effect.)
Collocations
dispose someone to kindness
|dispose someone to favor
|factors that dispose us to
|circumstances that dispose people toward
|disposed him toward forgiveness
Themes
attitude
|psychology
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her honesty disposed me to trust her.
- The friendly welcome disposed the audience toward the speaker.
- Early experiences can dispose people to anger or patience.
- His past failures disposed him to be cautious.
- Such generosity naturally disposes us to gratitude.
Learner examples
- Her kind words disposed me to like her.
- The warm weather disposed everyone to relax.
- The teacher's smile disposed the students to listen.
- Bad news disposed him to feel sad.
- Their help disposed us to support their plan.
Verb
technical
C1
action
4
sell or give away property
To sell or give something, such as property or shares, so it is no longer yours.
Usage pattern:
to dispose of [assets/property/shares]
Common mistake:
Learners may mix this business/legal sense with the waste-removal sense and think it always means "throw away". In business and law, "dispose of" often means "sell" or "transfer", not physically discard something.
Synonyms
divest (A technical term in business and finance meaning to sell or get rid of assets, often for strategic reasons.)
Antonyms
acquire (Means to obtain or buy something, the opposite of selling or giving it away.)
Collocations
dispose of assets
|dispose of property
|dispose of shares
|dispose of interests
|dispose of the business
Themes
business
|law
|finance
Examples
- The company plans to dispose of several non-core assets.
- Under the will, she is free to dispose of the property as she wishes.
- Shareholders voted to dispose of the loss-making division.
- He was forced to dispose of his stake in the firm.
- The charity disposed of the donated land at auction.
Learner examples
- The firm decided to dispose of its old building.
- They will dispose of their shares next year.
- She can dispose of the house after her parents die.
- The company must dispose of some assets to pay its debts.
- He chose to dispose of his business before retiring.
Verb
formal
C2
action
5
arrange or place carefully
To put things in a special order or pattern.
Usage pattern:
to dispose [things] [in/into + pattern/place]
Common mistake:
Because this sense is formal and not very common, learners often try to use the more familiar "put" or "place" and may not recognize "disposed" as meaning "arranged" when reading. Also, learners sometimes confuse this with the "throw away" sense, but here nothing is being removed; things are just arranged.
Synonyms
arrange (More common and general; "dispose" sounds more formal and often suggests a careful or artistic placing.)
Antonyms
scatter (Means to throw or place things in many directions without order, the opposite of arranging them carefully.)
Collocations
disposed in a circle
|disposed around the table
|neatly disposed
|symmetrically disposed
|disposed along the wall
Themes
art
|design
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Chairs were disposed in a circle around the room.
- Small lamps were artfully disposed along the path.
- The paintings were symmetrically disposed on the gallery wall.
- Tables were disposed around the hall to create more space.
- Stones were carefully disposed to form a low border.
Learner examples
- The chairs were disposed in rows.
- Flowers were disposed around the statue.
- Pictures were disposed along the hallway.
- Lights were disposed on both sides of the street.
- Seats were disposed in a circle for the meeting.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dispose
IPA
GB/dɪspˈoʊz/
US/dɪspˈoʊz/
Syllables & stress
dis - pose (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pose)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: dispose
- 3rd Person Singular: disposes
- Present Participle: disposing
- Past: disposed
Word family
Forms
disposes
verb
disposing
verb
disposed
verb
Core family
disposal
noun B2
disposable
adjective B1
Related words
disposition
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
indisposed
adjective
Advanced or less common
disposer
noun
Expressions
be disposed to do something
1/bˈi dɪspˈoʊzd tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
tend or be willing to do
To be likely or willing to do something.
Examples
- I am disposed to accept their offer.
- They seem disposed to give us another chance.
be ill disposed toward someone/something
1/bˈi ˈɪl dɪspˈoʊzd təwˈɔɹd sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
have an unfriendly attitude
To dislike or not support someone or something; to feel negative toward them.
Examples
- Many employees were ill disposed toward the new policy.
- He was ill disposed toward the idea of further cuts.
be well disposed toward someone/something
1/bˈi wˈɛl dɪspˈoʊzd təwˈɔɹd sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
have a favorable attitude
To like or support someone or something; to feel positive toward them.
Examples
- The voters were well disposed toward the new candidate.
- She was well disposed toward her colleagues after the successful project.
dispose of
1/dɪspˈoʊz əv/
phrasal verb
get rid of something
To get rid of something you do not want, usually by throwing it away or dealing with it safely.
Examples
- Please dispose of your cigarette ends in the bins provided.
- The committee quickly disposed of the remaining items on the agenda.
- This chemical must be disposed of at a special facility.
- He easily disposed of his opponent in straight sets.
- We need to dispose of these old files before we move offices.