disable Definition
- 1to make someone or something unable to function or operate normally
- 2to injure or impair someone permanently
Using disable: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "disable" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The accident disabled him for life.
Example
The virus disabled my computer.
Example
The company disabled the user's account due to suspicious activity.
Example
The injury disabled her from playing sports.
disable Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for disable
- incapacitate
- impair
- weaken
- harm
- cripple
Antonyms for disable
Idioms Using disable
disable someone's defenses
to weaken someone's ability to resist or defend themselves
Example
The hacker was able to disable the company's defenses and steal sensitive information.
Example
He disabled the alarm before entering the building.
Example
The bomb squad was able to disable the bomb before it exploded.
Phrases with disable
having a mental condition that limits intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior
Example
He was born mentally disabled and requires special care.
having a physical condition that limits mobility or other bodily functions
Example
The building has ramps and elevators for physically disabled individuals.
a neurological disorder that affects the ability to receive, process, store, and respond to information
Example
She has a learning disability that makes it difficult for her to read and write.
Origins of disable
from Old French 'desabillier', meaning 'to undress'
Summary: disable in Brief
The verb 'disable' [dɪsˈeɪbl] means to make someone or something unable to function normally, or to injure or impair someone permanently. It can refer to physical or mental limitations, as in 'The injury disabled her from playing sports,' or 'He was born mentally disabled and requires special care.' 'Disable' also extends into idioms like 'disable someone's defenses,' meaning to weaken someone's ability to resist, and 'disable a bomb,' meaning to render it harmless.
