verb
Uncommon
dismantle
dihs-MANT-uh
Dismantle (verb) means to take something apart piece by piece. Example: “It took two engineers all day to dismantle the old machine.”
verb
1
To take something apart piece by piece.
"In order to grant the rich these pleasures, the social contract is reconfigured. The welfare state is dismantled. Essential public services are cut so that the rich may pay less tax."
— George Monbiot, Money just makes the rich suffer (2013)
"It took two engineers all day to dismantle the old machine."
2
To methodically take down or destroy a system, argument, or organization.
"The lawyer dismantled the witness's story point by point."
How to use dismantle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo break something down into its parts, whether that's a machine, a building, or an argument.
Common pairings
dismantle a bomb
dismantle an argument
dismantle the system
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- dismantles
- Past tense
- dismantled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It took two engineers all day to _____ the old machine.
Etymology
From Middle French desmanteler, literally "to strip off a cloak" (des- + mantel, "coat"), later broadened to mean taking anything apart.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dismantle
See all rhymes for dismantle →Frequently asked questions
What does “dismantle” mean?
The word “dismantle” means to take something apart piece by piece. In plain terms, to break something down into its parts, whether that's a machine, a building, or an argument.
How do you pronounce “dismantle”?
“Dismantle” is pronounced dihs-MANT-uh ([dɪsˈmæ̃nɾɫ̩] in IPA).
How do you use “dismantle” in a sentence?
Here is “dismantle” used in a sentence: “It took two engineers all day to dismantle the old machine.”
What part of speech is “dismantle”?
“Dismantle” is a verb.
Where does the word “dismantle” come from?
The word “dismantle” comes from Middle French. From Middle French desmanteler, literally "to strip off a cloak" (des- + mantel, "coat"), later broadened to mean taking anything apart.
Is “dismantle” a common word?
“Dismantle” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dismantle” have?
“Dismantle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to take something apart piece by piece.
