disable

disable — verb

1. to damage a person's body or mind through injury or disease so that they can no

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to damage a person's body or mind through injury or disease so that they can no longer move their limbs normally, do simple tasks, or take care of their own needs.

Example

The accident disabled Sivan so badly that she now relies on a wheelchair to get around.

passive avoidance: disabled [person] + result clause

A stroke can disable a person by damaging the parts of the brain that control movement and speech.

Common collocations
  • permanently disabled
  • severely disabled
  • disabled by illness
  • disabled by injury
Synonyms
  • cripple

    stronger and often considered offensive; avoid in modern usage

  • impair

    more clinical; suggests partial rather than total loss of function

  • incapacitate

    formal; implies being unable to act or function

Antonyms
  • enable

    to give someone the means or ability to do something

Grammar Patterns

be disabled by [injury / disease]

Usage Note

Often used in the passive voice when the cause of the disability is emphasised (be disabled by an accident / a disease). This sense does not take an infinitive complement — do not say 'The injury disabled him to walk.'

Common Mistakes

The accident disabled him to walk.
The accident left him unable to walk.
disable is not followed by an infinitive; use 'leave someone unable to' or 'prevent someone from' instead.

2. to make a machine, a piece of equipment, or a computer system stop working, eith

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to make a machine, a piece of equipment, or a computer system stop working, either temporarily or permanently — for example, turning off an alarm, switching off a phone function, or cutting the power to a broken lift.

Example

Naoko disabled the alarm system before entering the building to avoid setting it off.

collocation: disable the alarm system

The maintenance team disabled the broken lift and hung a warning sign on the doors.

Common collocations
  • disable a feature
  • disable the alarm
  • disable the system
  • disable notifications
Synonyms
  • deactivate

    almost interchangeable; slightly more technical, common for digital accounts and security devices

  • turn off

    more general; used for everyday appliances (lights, TV, tap)

  • shut down

    implies a complete stop, often of a computer or engine

Antonyms
  • enable

    to make a system or feature operational again

  • activate

    to start or turn on a device or function

Grammar Patterns

disable + [device / system / feature]

Usage Note

Frequently used for computer settings, security systems, and vehicle controls. To disable something usually implies a deliberate action, but can also describe a failure (a bug disabled the system).

Common Mistakes

I disabled the light before leaving.
I turned off the light before leaving.
use 'turn off' for simple actions like lights and taps; 'disable' is for systems, features, or machinery.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All four expressions mean to stop something from working, but they differ in register, scope, and typical use. DISABLE is the broadest term for making a system, device, or function inoperative — often deliberate (disable the alarm) but occasionally due to failure (a bug disabled the printer). DEACTIVATE is more technical and is common for digital accounts, security codes, or electronic devices (deactivate your credit card after losing it). TURN OFF is the most everyday verb, used for simple appliances and controls: lights, TVs, taps, ovens. SHUT DOWN implies a complete end to operation, usually of a computer, engine, or factory, and often involves a procedure rather than a single switch. Use 'disable' when the thing is a system, feature, or mechanism; use 'deactivate' for accounts and codes; use 'turn off' for simple household items; and use 'shut down' for machines that run continuously.

disable ↗deactivateturn off ↗shut down ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • disable access to
  • disable the ability to

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From the prefix 'dis-' (meaning 'do the opposite of' or 'remove') combined with 'able' (from Latin 'habilis', meaning 'easy to handle, fit'). First recorded in English in the late 1400s, originally meaning 'to deprive of legal ability or qualification.' By the 1500s it had broadened to physical and mechanical meanings: first 'to make someone unable to function' and later 'to make a machine or device stop working.'