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Definition 2024


dispose_of

dispose of

English

Verb

dispose of (third-person singular simple present disposes of, present participle disposing of, simple past and past participle disposed of)

  1. (transitive) To get rid of.
    They disposed of the stolen property.
    The national power committee has trouble disposing of nuclear waste.
  2. (transitive) To transfer to another's control.
    • 1899, Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness, section 2
      ‘Yes,’ answered the manager; ‘he sent his assistant down the river with a note to me in these terms: “Clear this poor devil out of the country, and don’t bother sending more of that sort. I had rather be alone than have the kind of men you can dispose of with me.”
  3. (transitive) To deal with conclusively with a threat or a difficult situation.
  4. (transitive) To arrange in an orderly way.
  5. (transitive, nonstandard, Euro-English) To have available, or at one's disposal.
    The Commission may not be able to assess the reliability of the data provided by Member States and may not dispose of independent information sources.