dispatch

dispatch — verb

1. to officially send a person, item, or message to a destination, usually for a pa

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to officially send a person, item, or message to a destination, usually for a particular mission, task, or purpose

Example

The company dispatched a team of engineers to the factory in Jakarta.

dispatch + noun phrase + to + place

Salma dispatched the package by express courier on Monday morning.

Common collocations
  • dispatch a team
  • dispatch a message
  • dispatch goods
  • dispatch troops
  • dispatch by air
  • dispatch to the scene
Synonyms
  • send

    the general, everyday term; dispatch is more formal and implies speed or purpose

  • ship

    specifically for goods or cargo, often commercially

  • forward

    pass something along to a further destination, especially messages or mail

  • transmit

    formal, used for signals, data, or information

Antonyms
  • receive

    the opposite action of sending or dispatching

  • retain

    keep something rather than sending it away

Grammar Patterns

dispatch + someone/something + to + place/person

be dispatched + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Frequently used in logistics, emergency services, and official communication. Unlike general 'send', dispatch emphasises speed, purpose, and often a formal or organised process.

Common Mistakes

I dispatched a birthday card to my cousin.
I sent a birthday card to my cousin.
dispatch sounds too official for casual personal mail.
The teacher dispatched the students home.
The teacher sent the students home.
dispatch implies a formal or operational purpose, not a routine dismissal.

2. to end the life of a person or animal swiftly and decisively, often to prevent s

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to end the life of a person or animal swiftly and decisively, often to prevent suffering or as part of a duty

Example

The vet decided it was kinder to dispatch the injured horse with a single injection.

dispatch + animal + to end suffering

In the novel, the spy dispatched his target with a silent and practiced movement.

Common collocations
  • dispatch an animal
  • dispatch a target
  • dispatch humanely
Synonyms
  • kill

    the neutral, general term; dispatch adds speed and decisiveness

  • put down

    specifically for euthanising animals

  • execute

    formal, implies a legal or ordered killing of a person

Antonyms
  • save

    prevent death rather than causing it

  • spare

    choose not to kill

Grammar Patterns

dispatch + noun phrase (person or animal)

Usage Note

When used for animals, it commonly describes humane euthanasia. When used for people, the tone is formal, literary, or euphemistic — not appropriate for everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

The cat dispatched a mouse in the kitchen.
The cat killed a mouse in the kitchen.
dispatch is too formal for describing ordinary animal predation.
The driver almost dispatched a pedestrian.
The driver almost killed a pedestrian.
dispatch is not used for accidental deaths.

3. to complete a task, settle a matter, or remove an obstacle rapidly and thoroughl

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to complete a task, settle a matter, or remove an obstacle rapidly and thoroughly

Example

The committee dispatched the agenda items in under an hour.

dispatch + noun phrase for completing tasks

Dewi dispatched her household chores before noon so she could enjoy the afternoon.

Common collocations
  • dispatch business
  • dispatch a task
  • dispatch an opponent
  • dispatch work quickly
Synonyms
  • handle

    general term for dealing with something; dispatch adds speed

  • finish

    complete something; dispatch emphasises doing it quickly

  • dispose of

    get rid of something; overlaps with dispatch when removal is involved

  • settle

    resolve a matter; often used for disputes or business

Antonyms
  • delay

    put off rather than dealing with promptly

  • leave

    not deal with something at all

Grammar Patterns

dispatch + noun phrase (task, business, matter, opponent)

Usage Note

This sense covers a broad range: finishing tasks, dealing with correspondence, defeating opponents in sports or games, and getting rid of unwanted items. The common thread is speed and completeness.

Common Mistakes

I dispatched reading the book over the weekend.
I finished reading the book over the weekend.
dispatch works best for tasks involving action, not leisurely activities.
She dispatched the food on her plate.
She finished the food on her plate.
dispatch is not used for eating.

dispatch — noun

Word family

  • dispatcher
    nounC1
  • despatch
    nounC1
  • despatch
    verbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Send is the broadest and most neutral term — you can send a letter, an email, a person, or a signal, whether formally or casually. Dispatch is more specific: it implies speed, a clear purpose, and often an official or organised process. Ship focuses on transporting physical goods, especially commercially (by sea, air, or truck). Forward means passing something along to a further destination, and is common for mail, emails, or documents that arrive at one point and need to go to another. Transmit is the most technical, used for data, signals, or information sent electronically. For everyday sending, use send. For urgent or official sending, use dispatch. For goods, use ship. For forwarding messages, use forward. For electronic signals, use transmit.

send ↗ship ↗forward ↗transmit ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • by dispatch
  • with dispatch
  • date of dispatch
  • dispatch note

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinItalianFrenchEnglish

Dispatch entered English in the early 1500s from Italian 'dispacciare', meaning to send off or speed on one's way. The Italian word likely came from Old French 'despeechier' (to set free, send away). The root parts are the Latin prefix 'dis-' (apart, away) and 'pedica' (fetter or shackle), so the original sense was literally 'to remove the fetters from' — to release someone or something so it can move freely. Over time, the meaning shifted from 'set free' to 'send off quickly', and later developed the extended senses of finishing tasks or killing swiftly.