verb
disengage
dih-sihng-GAYJ
verb
1
To detach or release something from what is holding or connecting it.
"He disengaged the clutch before shifting gears."
"She disengaged from the conversation and left quietly."
How to Use Disengage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo unhook, release, or step back from something you were connected to or involved in.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
disengage the gear
disengage from a task
Word Forms
disengaged past tense, disengages plural, disengages singular
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He _____ the clutch before shifting gears.
Etymology
From French desengager, built from dis- plus engage — the opposite of locking or committing to something.