disengage

verb

dis·​en·​gage ˌdis-in-ˈgāj How to pronounce disengage (audio)
disengaged; disengaging; disengages

transitive verb

: to release from something that engages or involves

intransitive verb

: to release or detach oneself : withdraw
disengagement noun

Examples of disengage in a Sentence

The two dancers moved together in a series of quick movements before disengaging and leaping apart. Put the car in gear, and then slowly disengage the clutch while pressing on the gas pedal. If there is a malfunction, the gears will automatically disengage.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If, instead, your pet disengages from the situation, leave them be. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025 Just 31% of employees reported feeling engaged, while 17% described themselves as actively disengaged. Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025 Controlling and setting the movement is a simple matter: While the crown controls the minutes on both dials as well as the hours on the front dial, the hours on the secondary time zone are adjusted via an unobtrusive slider revealed when the case is disengaged from its carriage. Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2025 But disengaging from social media isn’t really an option, either, especially in an era when college athletes earn money by treating themselves like a brand—a right referred to as NIL (name, image, likeness). Frankie De La Cretaz, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disengage

Word History

Etymology

French désengager, from Middle French, from des- dis- + engager to engage

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of disengage was in 1611

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disengage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disengage. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

disengage

verb
dis·​en·​gage ˌdis-ᵊn-ˈgāj How to pronounce disengage (audio)
: to free or release from an engagement, entanglement, or burden
disengage an automobile clutch
disengagement noun

More from Merriam-Webster on disengage

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