dispatch

1 of 2

verb

dis·​patch di-ˈspach How to pronounce dispatch (audio)
dispatched; dispatching; dispatches
Synonyms of dispatchnext

transitive verb

1
: to send off or away with promptness or speed
dispatch a letter
dispatch an ambulance to the scene
especially : to send off on official business
dispatch a messenger
2
a
: to kill with quick efficiency
dispatched the deer with one shot
b
obsolete : deprive
3
: to dispose of (something, such as a task) rapidly or efficiently
anxious to dispatch the matter
… household business could not be dispatched hastily by Mrs. Tulliver.—George Eliot
4
: defeat sense 1
easily dispatching each team they played

intransitive verb

archaic : to make haste : hurry
dispatcher
di-ˈspa-chər How to pronounce dispatch (audio)
noun

dispatch

2 of 2

noun

dis·​patch di-ˈspach How to pronounce dispatch (audio) ˈdi-ˌspach How to pronounce dispatch (audio)
1
a
: a message sent with speed
especially : an important official message sent by a diplomatic, military, or naval officer
sent a dispatch to headquarters
b
: a news item filed (see file entry 4 sense 2b) by a correspondent
dispatches from the war zone
2
: the act of dispatching: such as
a
obsolete : dismissal
b
: the act of killing
c(1)
: prompt settlement (as of an item of business)
Tom Pinch and his sister having to part, for the dispatch of the morning's business …, had no opportunity of discussing the subject at that time.—Charles Dickens
(2)
: quick riddance
d
: a sending off : shipment
the immediate dispatch of supplies to the front
3
: promptness and efficiency in performance or transmission
done with dispatch

Synonyms

Verb

Noun

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for dispatch

Verb

kill, slay, murder, assassinate, dispatch, execute mean to deprive of life.

kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner.

killed in an accident
frost killed the plants

slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive.

slew thousands of the Philistines

murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility.

convicted of murdering a rival

assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives.

terrorists assassinated the Senator

dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death.

dispatched the sentry with one bullet

execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty.

executed by lethal gas

Noun

haste, hurry, speed, expedition, dispatch mean quickness in movement or action.

haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness.

marry in haste

hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion.

in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush

speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action.

exercises to increase your reading speed

expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters.

the case came to trial with expedition
paid bills with dispatch

Examples of dispatch in a Sentence

Verb Rescue workers were immediately dispatched to the area. The hotel dispatched a limo to pick us up from the airport. He dispatched the guard with one bullet. Noun The general sent a dispatch to headquarters. He requested the immediate dispatch of supplies. The reporter sent many dispatches from the war zone.
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.
Verb
The hand belongs to Palmer (Brian Dietzen), who was dispatched to bring Knight in to deal with this international crisis. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024 Check out the companies making headlines before the bell: Talen Energy — The independent power company tumbled more than 8% after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rejected a request to increase the amount of power the Susquehanna nuclear plant can dispatch to an Amazon data center campus. —Sean Conlon, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
This technology functions as a single access platform to view and analyze various sources of existing and proposed Seattle police data such as video and audio feeds, officer dispatch information and location, 911 calls, and police records. —Spencer Pauley | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Oct. 2024 The 911 caller told dispatch that Salazar Reyes was shot inside the home, according to police. —Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dispatch 

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Spanish despachar or Italian dispacciare, from Occitan despachar to get rid of, from Middle French despechier to set free, from Old French, from des- dis- + -pechier (as in enpechier to ensnare) — more at impeach

First Known Use

Verb

1517, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of dispatch was in 1517

Phrases Containing dispatch

Dictionary Entries Near dispatch

dispassioned

dispatch

dispatch boat

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Dispatch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispatch. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

dispatch

1 of 2 verb
dis·​patch dis-ˈpach How to pronounce dispatch (audio)
1
: to send away quickly to a particular place or for a particular purpose
dispatch a messenger
dispatch a train
2
: to put to death : kill
3
: to get done speedily
dispatcher noun

dispatch

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: message sense 1
especially : an important official message
b
: a news story sent in to a newspaper
2
: the sending of a message or messenger
3
: the act of killing
4
: the shipment of goods
5
: promptness in performing a task
did our homework with dispatch

More from Merriam-Webster on dispatch

Nglish: Translation of dispatch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of dispatch for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
turkey-looking-at-camera
Giving Thanks Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...