Basic Details
Word: Dispose
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To get rid of something, usually used as dispose of; also, in formal English, to make someone inclined to do something.
Synonyms: discard, throw away, get rid of, scrap
Antonyms: keep, retain
How to Spell Dispose
Syllables: dis - pose
Tricky part: The second s sounds like z but is spelt s, and the word ends with a silent e.
Watch out for: dispoze, despose, dispos
Memory tip: The second half is the word pose, exactly as when you pose for a photo: dis + pose.
Usage Examples
Example 1: We dispose of old newspapers by selling them to the raddiwala.
Example 2: How should we dispose of these empty paint tins?
Example 3: Batteries must never be disposed of in a fire.
Fun Fact
When it means getting rid of something, dispose is almost always followed by of: we dispose of waste, we do not simply dispose waste.
Practise the CREST Way
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Please psoides of the plastic bottles in the blue recycling bin.
a) suppose
b) dispose
c) depose
d) propose
Show answer
b) dispose. There are seven letters, including a d and an i; depose has no i, and propose and suppose have no d.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Hospitals must dispoze of used needles in special yellow boxes so that no cleaner is ever hurt by them.
a) Hospitals
b) dispoze
c) needles
d) special
Show answer
b) dispoze. The buzzing sound in this verb is spelt with an s, as in pose and rose.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. persue 2. opose 3. dispose 4. reciede
a) to chase or follow
b) to move back or become less
c) to get rid of something
d) to be against something
Show answer
c) to get rid of something. Recede has no i, pursue begins with pur and oppose has a double p, which leaves dispose.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The safest way to dispose of old medicine is to ____.
a) throw it in a river
b) hand it in at a chemist
c) leave it in the park
d) give it to a friend
Show answer
b) hand it in at a chemist
2. Which words can replace dispose of in: Please dispose of the banana peels.
a) throw away
b) peel off
c) count up
d) cook up
Show answer
a) throw away
