dispatch

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/dɪˈspætʃ/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/v. dɪˈspætʃ; n. also ˈdɪspætʃ/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(di spach′)



WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•patch /v. dɪˈspætʃ; n. also ˈdɪspætʃ/USA pronunciation   v. [~ + object]
  1. to send off or away with speed:He dispatched his best troops to the borders.
  2. to put to death;
    kill:The injured horse was dispatched painlessly by its owner.
  3. to transact or dispose of (a matter) promptly:The negotiations were dispatched almost as soon as the two sides sat down to talk.

n. 
  1. the sending off of a messenger, letter, troops, etc.:[countable* usually singular]the dispatch of a special brigade to the troubled region.
  2. prompt or speedy action:[uncountable]done with dispatch.
  3. an official communication sent with speed:[countable]The general sent a dispatch to his field commander.
  4. Journalism a news story transmitted to a newspaper by a reporter:[countable]a dispatch from Nairobi.
dis•patch•er, n. [countable]The police dispatcher sent several squad cars to the area.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•patch  (di spach′),USA pronunciation v.t. 
  1. to send off or away with speed, as a messenger, telegram, body of troops, etc.
  2. to dismiss (a person), as after an audience.
  3. to put to death;
    kill:The spy was promptly dispatched.
  4. to transact or dispose of (a matter) promptly or speedily.

v.i. 
  1. [Archaic.]to hasten;
    be quick.

n. 
  1. the sending off of a messenger, letter, etc., to a destination.
  2. the act of putting to death;
    killing;
    execution.
  3. prompt or speedy transaction, as of business.
  4. expeditious performance;
    promptness or speed:Proceed with all possible dispatch.
  5. Business[Com.]
    • a method of effecting a speedy delivery of goods, money, etc.
    • a conveyance or organization for the expeditious transmission of goods, money, etc.
  6. a written message sent with speed.
  7. an official communication sent by special messenger.
  8. Journalisma news story transmitted to a newspaper, wire service, or the like, by one of its reporters, or by a wire service to a newspaper or other news agency.
  9. British Terms, Idioms mentioned in dispatches, honored by being named in official military reports for special bravery or acts of service.
Also, despatch. 
  • Late Latin -pedicāre to shackle; see impeach
  • Old French despeechier to unshackle, equivalent. to des- dis-1 + -peechier
  • Spanish despachar both ultimately
  • Italian dispacciare to hasten, speed, or
  • 1510–20
    9. rapidity, haste, alacrity, celerity.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
dispatch, despatch /dɪˈspætʃ/ vb (transitive)
  1. to send off promptly, as to a destination or to perform a task
  2. to discharge or complete (a task, duty, etc) promptly
  3. informal to eat up quickly
  4. to murder or execute
 n
  1. the act of sending off a letter, messenger, etc
  2. prompt action or speed (often in the phrase with dispatch)
  3. an official communication or report, sent in haste
  4. a report sent to a newspaper, etc, by a correspondent
  5. murder or execution
Etymology: 16th Century: from Italian dispacciare, from Provençal despachar, from Old French despeechier to set free, from des- dis-1 + -peechier, ultimately from Latin pedica a fetterdisˈpatcher n
'dispatch' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
allege - Bad Ems - despatch - dispatch box - dispatch case - dispatch rider - expedition - mission - post - premise - send - address - advance - advice boat - apopemptic - attaché case - aviso - celerity - date line - dispatch boat - dispatcher - expedite - flash - flimsy - hunting knife - hurry - jig - outdispatch - pack - predispatch - predispatcher - redispatch - relegate - report - telegram - transmit - undispatchable - undispatching - self-dispatch - spatchcock - speed - summary
Collocations: the dispatch of [goods, items, products, orders], the dispatch of [communication, letters, invitations, messages] (to), the dispatch of [troops, forces, tanks, soldiers] (to), more...

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