Pronunciations (6)
-
/dɪˈspæt͡ʃ/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
-
/dɪˈspæt͡ʃ/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
- Canada
- General-American
-
/dəˈspæt͡ʃ/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
- Canada
- General-American
-
/dəˈspɛt͡ʃ/
Pronunciation notes
- New-Zealand
-
dəˈspætʃ
Pronunciation notes
- AU
-
dɪˈspætʃ
Verb
To send (a shipment) with promptness.
Usage- Transitive
To send (a person) away hastily.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
The League of One was suddenly exposed and in danger of being hunted by enemies of the salarians. Before any harm could be done, the team mysteriously disappeared.[...]Realizing the threat posed by this rogue outfit, the Special Tasks Group dispatched a team of hunters. When they didn't return, the STG dispatched ten of its brightest operators with broad discretionary powers. Only two returned; they reported no evidence of the League.
To send (an important official message) promptly, by means of a diplomat or military officer.
Usage- Transitive
To send (a journalist) to a place in order to report.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
Scores of foreign journalists have been dispatched to Seoul to report on the growing tensions between the two Koreas and the possibility of war.
To dispose of speedily, as business; to execute quickly; to make a speedy end of; to finish; to perform.
Usage- Transitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we / The business we have talk'd of.
the which company of harvest men, being ready at the day appointed, almost in one fair day dispatcheth all the harvest work.
To eat, especially quickly.
Usage- Transitive
To rid; to free.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
But whā I had cleane diſpatched myſelf of this great charge and taſke, I loked not that I ſhould at any tyme afterwarde have any more to doe with this kynde of writing
To destroy (someone or something) quickly and efficiently.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
"And our dogs used to tree the cats on our property here, and we'd dispatch them."
More examples (1)
So Tyrion hatches one last brilliant scheme in a season full of them, and this one goes exactly as well as all the others, even if it doesn’t look like it at first. He alone takes a meeting with Cersei, in her chambers, with the Mountain ready and waiting to dispatch him.
To defeat
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
Gareth Southgate's side had little trouble dispatching the side 172nd in the Fifa rankings.
To pass on for further processing, especially via a dispatch table (often with to).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
These handlers perform any additional checking and processing that may be necessary before and after a message is dispatched to an object. In addition, some message types are handled internally by the kernel[…]
To hurry.
Usage- Intransitive
- Obsolete
- Examples
-
prithee, dispatch
“Proceed, friend Nicolas, and let us dispatch; for, it grows late.”
To deprive.
Usage- Obsolete
- Transitive
Noun
A message sent quickly, as a shipment, a prompt settlement of a business, or an important official message sent by a diplomat, government official, military officer, etc.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets. They also exposed the blatant discrepancy between the west's professed values and actual foreign policies.
The act of doing something quickly.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
We must act with dispatch in this matter.
More examples (2)
During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant[…]
A farmer could place an order for a new tractor part by text message and pay for it by mobile money-transfer. A supplier many miles away would then take the part to the local matternet station for airborne dispatch via drone.
A mission by an emergency response service, typically involving attending to an emergency in the field.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
The passing on of a message for further processing, especially through a dispatch table.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A dismissal.
Usage- Countable
- Obsolete
- Uncountable
Noun
an official report (usually sent in haste)
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
the act of sending off something
- Broader terms
the property of being prompt and efficient
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
it was done with dispatch
killing a person or animal
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
Verb
send away towards a designated goal
complete or carry out
- Examples
-
discharge one's duties
kill intentionally and with premeditation
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered
dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently
- Examples
-
He dispatched the task he was assigned
kill without delay
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
the traitor was dispatched by the conspirators