DictionaryAI

disable

USdis-AY-bul/dɪsˈeɪbəl/dis-AY-buhl/dɪsˈeɪbəl/

Formsdisables, disabling, disabled

4 meanings of disable

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive
    To turn off a feature or part of a device so it stops working.

    Like flipping a switch to turn one part of a machine off while the rest keeps running.

    You can disable the alarm by holding this button for three seconds.

    She disabled the notifications on her phone before the meeting.

    Similardeactivate, disengage

    Oppositeenable, activate

    Note
  2. 2
    verbtransitive
    To take away someone's ability to do something.

    Like breaking a tool so it can no longer be used.

    A serious injury could disable him for the rest of his life.

    One bad decision disabled the whole rescue effort.

    Similarincapacitate, cripple, paralyze, immobilize

    Note
  3. 3
    verbtransitive
    To badly hurt someone's body or mind in a lasting way.

    Like an injury that stops part of the body from ever working properly again.

    The crash could disable him for life.

    A bad fall disabled her grandmother last winter.

    Similarimpair, incapacitate, cripple, maim

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    adjectiveobsolete
    Not able to do something, with no power to act.
    Our disable and unactive force.
    1595, Samuel Daniel, The First Fowre Bookes of the Ciuile Wars between the Two Houses of Lancaster and YorkeHere, disable means unable, with no power to act.
    Note

Practice

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Origin

From dis- (meaning not or reverse) plus able.