to dispense

Examples

• All

• The school will dispense students from the dress code on spirit days.

• Can we dispense with all that, please?

  The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook (2006)

• We'll have to dispense with that.

  Kismet (1944)

• Shall we dispense with them?

  The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)

• Let's dispense with reading of the minutes, since we do not have it.

  Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982)

• Then we can dispense with any formal introduction.

  Final Score (2018)

• Since military courtesy is not practical here, we'll dispense with it.

  Uncommon Valor (1983)

• This year we are going to dispense with our traditional encore.

  The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012)

• We'll dispense with the reading of the minutes and the roll call, and hear the treasurer's report.

  The Toast of New York (1937)

• We shall therefore dispense with unnecessary formalities.

  Paths of Glory (1957)

Synonyms

E

to exempt

vsto dispense

• Formal

38 4.1

To free someone officially from a rule or obligation

gives formal permission to ignore a rule rather than a lasting release

Antonyms

R

to require

∞ 1.1

Need something because a rule or situation makes it necessary

O

to oblige

• Formal

67 4.5

To make someone do something because the law or rules say so

Phrasal Verbs

D

to dispense with

28 6.3

To stop using something because you do not need it

How Permissive

to exempt

• Formal

38 4.1

to dispense

• Formal

6 6.6

to permit

441 1.5

to restrict

188 3.1

to prohibit

171 3.3

Surface Forms

Etymology