disable
gb/dɪsˈeɪbəl/ us/dɪsˈeɪbəl/
B2
Engels
~ 7600
Betekenissen
0 betekenissen
Werkwoord
B2
action
1
turn off or make not work
To make a machine, program, or feature stop working or stop being active.
Gebruikspatroon:
to disable [a device/feature/account]
Veelgemaakte fout:
Learners sometimes say *"disable off"* (e.g., *"disable off the Wi‑Fi"*), but *disable* already includes the idea of turning something off, so you should say *"disable the Wi‑Fi"*. Another confusion is between *disable* and *uninstall*: *disable an app* means stop it from running; *uninstall an app* means remove it from the device.
Synoniemen
deactivate (More formal/technical; very common in computing and electronics.)
|
turn off (More informal and general; used especially for lights and simple devices.)
|
shut down (Often used for computers or systems; suggests a complete stop rather than just turning off a single feature.)
Antoniemen
enable (Standard technical opposite; means to turn on or allow a function or feature.)
|
activate (More formal/technical opposite; used for making devices or features start working.)
|
turn on (More informal and general; opposite of turning something off.)
Woordcombinaties
disable a feature
|disable an account
|disable notifications
|disable a device
|disable a function
|disable access
Thema's
technology
|internet
|everyday life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Voorbeelden
- You should disable Bluetooth when you're not using it to save battery.
- The IT department disabled her account after she left the company.
- I disabled the automatic updates because they were interrupting my work.
- Please disable the alarm before you open the door.
- The new policy allows parents to disable in‑app purchases on their children’s phones.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- I disabled the sound on my phone.
- He disabled the Wi‑Fi before the plane took off.
- You can disable this feature in the settings menu.
- They disabled her card after it was stolen.
- Click here to disable email notifications.
Werkwoord
B2
action
2
injure so normal activity is impossible
To hurt or damage someone or something so much that they cannot move, work, or live in a normal way.
Gebruikspatroon:
to disable [someone/something]
Veelgemaakte fout:
Learners sometimes confuse the verb *disable* with the adjective *disabled*. You should say *"He was disabled in an accident"* (adjective) or *"The accident disabled him"* (verb), not *"He is disable"*. Also, do not say *"He is disabled to walk"*; instead say *"He is unable to walk"* or *"He cannot walk"*.
Synoniemen
cripple (Can be offensive when used about people; more acceptable when used about systems or organizations.)
|
paralyze (Focuses specifically on loss of movement, often of part or all of the body.)
|
incapacitate (More formal; means to make someone unable to act or work, including in physical or legal contexts.)
Antoniemen
rehabilitate (Means to help someone recover abilities after injury or illness, reversing some of the disabling effects.)
|
strengthen (General opposite idea: to make someone or something stronger and more able, not less.)
Woordcombinaties
permanently disable
|seriously disabled
|disabled for life
|disabled by an injury
|disabled in an accident
|war‑disabled veterans
Thema's
health
|disability
|everyday life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Voorbeelden
- The accident disabled her, and she now uses a wheelchair.
- A stroke disabled him at the age of fifty‑two.
- The explosion disabled several soldiers, leaving them unable to return to combat.
- Polio disabled thousands of children before the vaccine was introduced.
- The attack disabled the pilot, and the co‑pilot had to land the plane.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- The car crash disabled his legs.
- The disease disabled many people in the village.
- The bomb disabled several soldiers in the war.
- The injury disabled her, so she cannot walk now.
- A bad fall disabled his right arm.
Werkwoord
formal
C1
action
3
make legally unable to act
To take away a person’s legal right or power to do something, like vote or have a job in government.
Gebruikspatroon:
to disable [someone] from [doing something]
Veelgemaakte fout:
This formal legal meaning is rare in everyday speech. Learners sometimes try to use it in normal situations where *"not allowed"*, *"cannot"*, or *"disqualify"* would sound more natural. For example, say *"He was disqualified from the race"*, not *"He was disabled from the race"*.
Synoniemen
disqualify (Common in legal and official contexts; emphasizes that rules or conditions stop someone from doing something.)
|
bar (More general and slightly less formal; means to officially stop someone from doing something.)
Antoniemen
entitle (Means to give someone the legal right to do something; the opposite of removing that right.)
|
qualify (Means to meet the conditions or be given permission to do something officially.)
Woordcombinaties
disable someone from voting
|disabled from holding office
|disabled by law
|disabled from acting as director
|statutorily disabled from
|legally disabled from
Thema's
law
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Voorbeelden
- The conviction disabled him from holding public office.
- Under the new law, unpaid taxes may disable a candidate from running in the election.
- Her bankruptcy status disabled her from acting as a company director for five years.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- The court decision disabled him from voting.
- The law disabled her from becoming a judge.
- His crime disabled him from working in a bank.
- New rules disabled many people from taking part in the election.
Grammatica
Lemmavorm
disable
IPA
GB/dɪsˈeɪbəl/
US/dɪsˈeɪbəl/
Lettergrepen en klemtoon
dis - able (2 lettergrepen)
Stress on 2nd syllable (able)
Woordvormen
Verb
- Base: disable
- 3rd Person Singular: disables
- Present Participle: disabling
- Past: disabled
Woordfamilie
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