dispose

dispose — verb

1. to cause someone to develop a particular feeling, opinion, or tendency toward so

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to cause someone to develop a particular feeling, opinion, or tendency toward someone or something — for example, a calm teacher disposing children to feel safe, or a generous offer disposing a committee to look more kindly on a proposal.

Example

Stefan's calm voice disposed the frightened children to trust him during the power cut.

dispose + object + to-infinitive

The jury was favorably disposed toward the witness after she gave clear and honest answers.

passive: be favorably disposed toward(s)

Common collocations
  • dispose favorably toward
  • dispose kindly toward
  • be well disposed to
  • be disposed to believe
  • be disposed to think
Synonyms
  • incline

    Less formal and more common; 'incline toward' has the same grammatical structure but appears in everyday writing and speech.

  • predispose

    Stronger than 'dispose' — implies a pre-existing tendency that makes someone ready to feel or act in a certain way; common in medical and psychological contexts.

  • prompt

    Focuses on an immediate trigger that causes a specific action or reaction, not a general attitude.

Grammar Patterns

dispose + object + to-infinitive

dispose + object + toward(s) + noun/gerund

be disposed + to-infinitive

be well/favorably/kindly disposed toward(s) + noun

Usage Note

Frequently appears in the passive (be disposed to/toward). The adjective forms well-disposed and ill-disposed are common in formal writing: 'The committee is well-disposed to the proposal.' This sense does NOT mean 'cause someone to do something directly' — it describes creating a state of mind, not a command or obligation.

Common Mistakes

The teacher disposed the students to finish their homework.
The teacher's encouragement disposed the students to approach the homework with a positive attitude.
'dispose to' creates inclination, not direct causation.
I am disposed to going to the party tonight.
I am disposed to go to the party tonight.
After 'disposed to,' use the base form of the verb, not a gerund.

2. to give a particular order or layout to items, furniture, or individuals — for e

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to give a particular order or layout to items, furniture, or individuals — for example, setting dishes in neat rows on a table, or positioning soldiers at intervals along a ridge.

Example

Ari disposed the fresh flowers in a wide glass vase on the reception desk.

dispose + object + in/on + location

The dinner plates were disposed in neat rows along the table before the guests arrived.

passive: be disposed in rows along

Common collocations
  • dispose in rows
  • dispose around
  • dispose along
  • dispose at intervals
  • dispose by size/order
Synonyms
  • arrange

    More common in everyday English; 'arrange' is less formal and covers a wider range of contexts from casual to professional.

  • position

    More specific — focuses on placing something in a precise or strategic location; common in military and sports contexts.

  • set out

    Informal phrasal verb; describes laying items in an orderly display, especially for a specific purpose or event.

Grammar Patterns

dispose + object + prepositional phrase (in/on/around/along/by)

be disposed + prepositional phrase

Usage Note

Often in the passive when describing the final state of the arrangement. In everyday English, 'arrange,' 'place,' or 'position' are more common. This sense carries a slightly formal or military tone — it suits descriptions of deliberate, systematic arrangement.

Common Mistakes

I disposed the old newspapers in the recycling bin.
I disposed of the old newspapers in the recycling bin.
Without 'of,' 'dispose' cannot mean 'get rid of.' To mean 'throw away,' always use 'dispose of.'
The general disposed the army to attack.
The general disposed the troops along the ridge.
'Dispose' (arrange) describes physical positioning, not giving orders or causing an action.
Phrasal verbs

dispose of

phrasal verb

To get rid of something that is no longer needed or wanted.

Maya disposed of the old newspapers in the recycling bin.

How should we dispose of these expired medications safely?

dispose — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All three words describe influencing someone's attitude or behavior, but they differ in timing and strength. 'Incline' is the most neutral and common — it suggests a gentle push toward a particular feeling or action (e.g., 'Her kindness inclined me to trust her'). 'Predispose' is stronger and implies that a pre-existing condition (genetic, experiential, or environmental) makes a particular outcome more likely — it is frequent in medical and psychological writing (e.g., 'A family history of diabetes predisposes patients to develop the condition'). 'Prompt' is the most immediate: it names a specific trigger that causes a person to do something right away, rather than creating a general tendency (e.g., 'The question prompted him to rethink his position'). For learners aiming to describe a general shift in attitude without medical overtones or urgent cause-and-effect, 'incline' is the safest everyday choice.

incline ↗predisposeprompt ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • at one's dispose
  • in order of size
  • in rows
  • at intervals

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'disponere' — a combination of 'dis-' (apart, in different directions) and 'ponere' (to put, place). The original meaning was 'to distribute, arrange, or set in order.' French borrowed it as 'disposer,' and English took the word from French in the 1300s. The sense of arranging physical objects was the earliest meaning; the psychological meaning (influencing someone's attitude) developed later, treating someone's mind as something that can be 'arranged' toward a particular state.