Dispatch — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /di-ˈspach/ dis·patch

Meaning & Definition of Dispatch

Dispatch (verb)

  1. to send off or away with promptness or speed; especially, to send off on official business
  2. to kill with quick efficiency
  3. deprive

Dispatch (noun)

  1. a message sent with speed; especially, an important official message sent by a diplomatic, military, or naval officer
  2. a news item filed by a correspondent
  3. the act of dispatching

Dispatch (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to go or be taken from one place to another

    "dispatched a messenger with urgent news"

    similar: consign, pack (off), send, ship, shoot, transfer, transmit, transport
    related: convey, deliver, hand over, pass, render, advance, drop, launch, address, forward, export, import, bestow, contribute, donate, give, present, resend, return
    opposite: accept, receive
    near: acquire, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, obtain, procure, secure

  2. to deprive of life

    "the exterminator dispatched the termites with professional efficiency"

    similar: carry off, claim, croak (slang), destroy, do in, fell, kill, slay, take, do away with, do for (chiefly British), make away with
    related: bump off, butcher, cut down, finish, get, ice (slang), knock off, murder, neutralize, off (slang), put away, rub out, scrag, snuff, take out, waste, whack (slang), annihilate, blot out, decimate, kill off, massacre, mow, slaughter, smite, assassinate, execute, martyr, terminate, euthanize, put down, suicide
    opposite: animate
    near: raise, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive, nurture

  3. to put to death deliberately

    "during his reign of terror the dictator dispatched thousands without the slightest qualm"

    similar: assassinate, bump off, croak (slang), do in, execute, get, ice (slang), knock off, liquidate, murder, neutralize, off (slang), put away, rub out, slay, snuff, take out, terminate, whack (slang), do away with
    related: blow away, shoot, shoot down, blot out, carry off, claim, cut down, destroy, fell, kill, smite, zap, butcher, massacre, mow (down), slaughter, annihilate, eliminate, eradicate, exterminate, wipe out
    near: animate, raise, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive

  4. to achieve a victory over

    "they dispatched the other team without breaking a sweat"

    similar: beat, best, conquer, defeat, do down (British), get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst, get the better of, knock for a loop
    related: sweep, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke (slang), snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax (slang), whip, cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend
    opposite: lose (to)
    near: fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

Dispatch (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a message on paper from one person or group to another

    "a soldier sending daily dispatches to friends and family back home"

    similar: epistle, letter, memo, memorandum, missive, note
    related: billet-doux, open letter, airmail, card, electronic mail, e-mail, junk mail, mail, postal card, postcard, communication, report, encyclical

  2. a piece of conveyed information

    "a dispatch from headquarters regarding a change in battle plans"

    similar: communication, message
    related: bulletin, communiqué, express (British), report, memo, memorandum, notice, epistle, letter, missive, note, electronic mail, e-mail, voice mail, intelligence, news, tidings, word, command, directive, instruction, order

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Dispatch

The most common words with a similar meaning to Dispatch:

Slang: croak, ice, off, whack
Chiefly British: do for
British: do down
consign, pack (off), send, ship, shoot, transfer, transmit, transport, carry off, claim, destroy, do in, fell, kill, slay, take, assassinate, bump off, execute, get, knock off, liquidate, murder, neutralize, put away, rub out, snuff, take out, terminate, beat, best, conquer, defeat, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Dispatch

Words with the opposite meaning of Dispatch:

accept, receive, animate, lose (to)

Related Words for Dispatch

convey, deliver, hand over, pass, render, advance, drop, launch, address, forward, export, import, bestow, contribute, donate, give, present, resend, return, butcher, cut down, finish, scrag, waste, annihilate, blot out, decimate, kill off, massacre, mow

Near Antonyms of Dispatch

acquire, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, obtain, procure, secure, raise, restore, resurrect, resuscitate, revive, nurture, fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

Word Forms of Dispatch

Inflections: dispatched, dispatching, dispatches

Derived words: dispatcher (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Dispatch

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) impeach

First known use: 1517t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Dispatch

Words & Phrases Containing Dispatch

dispatch case, dispatch rider, with dispatch

Frequently Asked Questions about Dispatch

What does "Dispatch" mean?

"Dispatch" means to send off or away with promptness or speed; especially, to send off on official business. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to send off or away with promptness or speed; especially, to send off on official business. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Dispatch"?

Other words for "Dispatch" include consign, pack (off), send, ship, shoot, transfer, transmit and transport. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Dispatch" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Dispatch"?

There are 185 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Dispatch". Common alternatives include consign, pack (off), send, ship, shoot, transfer, transmit, transport, carry off and claim.

What is a slang word for "Dispatch"?

Slang words for "Dispatch" include croak, ice, off and whack.

What is the opposite of "Dispatch"?

Antonyms of "Dispatch" include accept, receive, animate and lose (to). Near antonyms include acquire, draw, earn and gain.

How do you use "Dispatch" in a sentence?

Examples of "Dispatch" in a sentence: "dispatched a messenger with urgent news"; "the exterminator dispatched the termites with professional efficiency"; "during his reign of terror the dictator dispatched thousands without the slightest qualm".

Is "Dispatch" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Dispatch" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Dispatch" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Dispatch" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.