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to disband

to disband

43 4.3
To stop being a group, for example a band or committee
  • verb
  • /dɪsˈbænd/
translation icon : disolver
  • Much of the movement disbanded, and the students left the streets for the offices.
  • disband a group
  • disband an organization
  • disband the army

He's at least not disbanding the Senate or disregarding their orders.

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Examples

  • The fraternity was forced to disband.

  • The US remained a small group and even briefly disbanded in the mid-1970s.

    Academic text (2001)
  • When the group refuses to disband, action must be taken.

  • Within two years, the committee disbanded for lack of concern by the faculty.

    Academic text (1991)
  • The Department of Health confirmed the team will be disbanded by April, 12 months before the three-year program ends.

    Academic text (2011)
  • On 13 January 1990, the Office for National Security was disbanded with no successor agency constituted.

    Academic text (2013)
  • It was officially disbanded in 1997 after some secret missions to Afghanistan.

  • Detective, can the streets of Detroit feel safer now that Rich Taylor's ring has been disbanded?

  • Then the Soviet Union broke up, but instead of disbanding, NATO has been expanding closer and closer to Russia's borders.

  • The committee decided to disband after completing its final project.

Synonyms

to split
vsto disband
575 2.3

End a relationship or go separate ways

focuses on ending full existence rather than just moving apart
to break up
vsto disband
152 3.4

Make a group of people leave or spread out

stops a group's ongoing existence rather than only dispersing it
to split up
vsto disband
  • Informal
137 2.7

To end a close relationship and go separate ways

refers to stopping groups or organizations from existing, not only personal separations
to close down
vsto disband
94 2.9

To stop operating permanently, like a shop or company

applies to ending any group or organization, not only businesses closing
to dissolve
vsto disband
  • Formal
60 4.1

To officially end an organization, agreement, or relationship

acts as a general stopping of a group's existence, not only formal closure
to disintegrate
vsto disband
35 5.8

Fall apart into smaller pieces or stop working together

means intentional stopping of group existence rather than accidental decay or force
to break apart
vsto disband
26 3.0

To separate into pieces, for example a machine or a group

means ending an organization rather than merely separating into pieces
to close its doors
vsto disband
17 4.0

To permanently stop operating as a business or organization

is about stopping a group's existence generally, not only business closure
8 3.9

Stop being together and take different paths in life

describes ending group existence rather than individuals choosing different paths
to disincorporate
vsto disband
  • Formal
9.3

End the legal existence of a company, organization, or town

applies to ending groups in general rather than only removing legal status

Antonyms

2.1

To join people or things into one group for a shared purpose

152 3.3

To gather people in one place for a purpose

How Final

to abolish
112 4.1
to dissolve
  • Formal
60 4.1
to disband
43 4.3
to break up
152 3.4
to disperse
104 4.4

Surface Forms

disband infinitive
disbanded past
disbanded past participle
disbanding present participle
disbands third person singular

Morphology

disband = band (semi-transparent) = dis + band

The prefix 'dis-' clearly signals reversal or separation, but many learners may not strongly know the verb 'band' meaning 'join into a group', so the meaning is only moderately guessable.

Etymology

The word disband comes from dis- meaning 'not' or 'away' and band meaning 'a group' or a thing that binds, like a wristband or wedding band. So to disband is to 'undo the band' and break up a group.