Library / English Dictionary

DISENGAGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Become free

Example:

in neutral, the gears disengage

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "disengage" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "disengage"):

unlock (become unlocked)

declutch (disengage the clutch of a car)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

engage (get caught)

Derivation:

disengagement (the act of releasing from an attachment or connection)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Free or remove obstruction from

Example:

free a path across the cluttered floor

Synonyms:

disengage; free

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "disengage"):

dig out (dig out from underneath earth or snow)

unclog (become or cause to become unobstructed)

loosen up; unstuff (cause to become unblocked)

disencumber; disentangle; extricate; untangle (release from entanglement of difficulty)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles

Example:

disengage the gears

Synonyms:

disengage; withdraw

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "disengage" is one way to...):

let go; let go of; release; relinquish (release, as from one's grip)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "disengage"):

unlock (set free or release)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

engage (keep engaged)

Derivation:

disengagement (the act of releasing from an attachment or connection)

Credits

 Context examples: 

His spirits, during the last two or three days, though still very unequal, were greatly improved—he grew more and more partial to the house and environs—never spoke of going away without a sigh—declared his time to be wholly disengaged—even doubted to what place he should go when he left them—but still, go he must.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

To-night we may have the pleasure of all meeting again at your party, (turning to Anne.) We had your sister's card yesterday, and I understood Frederick had a card too, though I did not see it; and you are disengaged, Frederick, are you not, as well as ourselves?

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

With his disengaged hand he made a menace of striking me, and then looked at me from head to foot.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He promised to come to me as soon as he could disengage himself from Knightley; but he and Knightley are shut up together in deep consultation.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

She was at least free from the offense of Mr. Darcy's further notice; though often standing within a very short distance of her, quite disengaged, he never came near enough to speak.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Fiercely he strove to disengage his weapon, but Hordle John bent his arm slowly back until, with a sharp crack, like a breaking stave, it turned limp in his grasp, and the mace dropped from the nerveless fingers.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

While we were ascending, they forgot several times what they were about, and left me to myself, till their memories were again roused by their flappers; for they appeared altogether unmoved by the sight of my foreign habit and countenance, and by the shouts of the vulgar, whose thoughts and minds were more disengaged.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

But to her utter amazement she found that to proceed along the room was by no means the way to disengage themselves from the crowd; it seemed rather to increase as they went on, whereas she had imagined that when once fairly within the door, they should easily find seats and be able to watch the dances with perfect convenience.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Mrs. Norris and her nieces were all well pleased with its revival, and an early day was named and agreed to, provided Mr. Crawford should be disengaged: the young ladies did not forget that stipulation, and though Mrs. Norris would willingly have answered for his being so, they would neither authorise the liberty nor run the risk; and at last, on a hint from Miss Bertram, Mr. Rushworth discovered that the properest thing to be done was for him to walk down to the Parsonage directly, and call on Mr. Crawford, and inquire whether Wednesday would suit him or not.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Captain Benwick obeyed, and Charles at the same moment, disengaging himself from his wife, they were both with him; and Louisa was raised up and supported more firmly between them, and everything was done that Anne had prompted, but in vain; while Captain Wentworth, staggering against the wall for his support, exclaimed in the bitterest agony—Oh God! her father and mother!

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)