Disable
verb
To make something unable to work.
To protect your computer, the antiviral software disables the virus.
Often appears as...
- disable a device
- disable an account
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
verb
To make someone unable to do something.
His injury has disabled him from playing football.
Often appears as...
- disable a person
- disable from doing something
verb
To switch off a function or feature.
You can disable the pop-up blocking feature in your browser settings.
Often appears as...
- disable a feature
- disable pop-ups
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
verb
To make something unable to work.
To protect your computer, the antiviral software disables the virus.
Often appears as...
- disable a device
- disable an account
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
verb
To make someone unable to do something.
His injury has disabled him from playing football.
Often appears as...
- disable a person
- disable from doing something
verb
To switch off a function or feature.
You can disable the pop-up blocking feature in your browser settings.
Often appears as...
- disable a feature
- disable pop-ups
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Technical Troubleshooting
Used when describing actions to fix or prevent technical issues in devices or software.
If the app freezes, disable it and restart your phone.
Pro Tip 2/3Security Measures
Often used in the context of security to describe deactivating something potentially harmful.
Always disable Bluetooth when you are not using it to enhance security.
Pro Tip 3/3Temporary Action
Implies the action may be reversed, not necessarily permanent.
The technician disabled the alarm system for maintenance.
Pro Tip 1/3Technical Troubleshooting
Used when describing actions to fix or prevent technical issues in devices or software.
If the app freezes, disable it and restart your phone.
Pro Tip 2/3Security Measures
Often used in the context of security to describe deactivating something potentially harmful.
Always disable Bluetooth when you are not using it to enhance security.
Pro Tip 3/3Temporary Action
Implies the action may be reversed, not necessarily permanent.
The technician disabled the alarm system for maintenance.
Pro Tip 1/3Technical Troubleshooting
Used when describing actions to fix or prevent technical issues in devices or software.
If the app freezes, disable it and restart your phone.
Pro Tip 2/3Security Measures
Often used in the context of security to describe deactivating something potentially harmful.
Always disable Bluetooth when you are not using it to enhance security.
Pro Tip 3/3Temporary Action
Implies the action may be reversed, not necessarily permanent.
The technician disabled the alarm system for maintenance.
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Video examples
Love, no matter what PIPE...
a very disabling condition, and his parents were told that he would never walk, he would never talk, he would have no intellectual capacity, and he would probably not even recognize them. And it was suggested to them that they leave him at the hospital so that he could die there quietly. His mother said she wasn't going to do it, and she took her son home.
Video examples
Chris Domas: The 1s and...
because whether he knew it or not, as soon as he decided to use his cell phone, he stepped into the realm of cyber. A well-crafted cyber attack could break into his phone, disable the overvoltage protections on his battery, drastically overload the circuit, cause the battery to overheat, and explode. No more phone, no more detonator,
Video examples
Thomas Insel: Toward a...
Why are they number one here? Well, there are probably three reasons. One is that they're highly prevalent. About one in five people will suffer from one of these disorders in the course of their lifetime. A second, of course, is that, for some people, these become truly disabling,
Video examples
3 ways to build a happy...
Do they follow through? Secondly, if, for example, you're out and you're being verbally attacked by somebody, or you're suffering from a really disabling illness, does your partner step up and do what needs to be done to leave you feeling cared for and protected?
Video examples
The mysterious science...
Studies have shown that disabling certain brain circuits in the amygdala can eliminate pain in rats. And genetic testing in people with rare disorders that prevent them from feeling pain have pinpointed several other possible targets for drugs
Video examples
How to fool a GPS - Todd...
device on her car so she was calling me for help to disable it well you should go to a good mechanic and have him take him look at your car I said I already have she told me he didn't see anything obvious and he said he'd have to take the car
Video examples
Zombie Parasites PIPE Nat...
where it has special censors so that it can grope around the brain and find exactly the part that is responsible for generating the motivation for movement. And it disables that part. And what that means is the cockroach is fully functional,
Video examples
Technology that protects...
world with disabling hearing loss if we can build a future where our hearing is taken into account by our technology where everyone adapts and adjusts their listening environment it turns hearing loss into only a difference and not so
Video examples
How America Fails New...
are more likely to get their vaccinations and their well checks in their first year, so those babies are more protected from deadly and disabling diseases. But those things are hidden behind images like this.
Video examples
The opportunity of...
or, indeed, a prognosis on the expected quality of their life, we have to make sure that we don't put the first brick in a wall that will actually disable someone.
Video examples
Love, no matter what PIPE...
a very disabling condition, and his parents were told that he would never walk, he would never talk, he would have no intellectual capacity, and he would probably not even recognize them. And it was suggested to them that they leave him at the hospital so that he could die there quietly. His mother said she wasn't going to do it, and she took her son home.
Video examples
Chris Domas: The 1s and...
because whether he knew it or not, as soon as he decided to use his cell phone, he stepped into the realm of cyber. A well-crafted cyber attack could break into his phone, disable the overvoltage protections on his battery, drastically overload the circuit, cause the battery to overheat, and explode. No more phone, no more detonator,
Video examples
Thomas Insel: Toward a...
Why are they number one here? Well, there are probably three reasons. One is that they're highly prevalent. About one in five people will suffer from one of these disorders in the course of their lifetime. A second, of course, is that, for some people, these become truly disabling,
Video examples
3 ways to build a happy...
Do they follow through? Secondly, if, for example, you're out and you're being verbally attacked by somebody, or you're suffering from a really disabling illness, does your partner step up and do what needs to be done to leave you feeling cared for and protected?
Video examples
The mysterious science...
Studies have shown that disabling certain brain circuits in the amygdala can eliminate pain in rats. And genetic testing in people with rare disorders that prevent them from feeling pain have pinpointed several other possible targets for drugs
Video examples
How to fool a GPS - Todd...
device on her car so she was calling me for help to disable it well you should go to a good mechanic and have him take him look at your car I said I already have she told me he didn't see anything obvious and he said he'd have to take the car
Video examples
Zombie Parasites PIPE Nat...
where it has special censors so that it can grope around the brain and find exactly the part that is responsible for generating the motivation for movement. And it disables that part. And what that means is the cockroach is fully functional,
Video examples
Technology that protects...
world with disabling hearing loss if we can build a future where our hearing is taken into account by our technology where everyone adapts and adjusts their listening environment it turns hearing loss into only a difference and not so
Video examples
How America Fails New...
are more likely to get their vaccinations and their well checks in their first year, so those babies are more protected from deadly and disabling diseases. But those things are hidden behind images like this.
Video examples
The opportunity of...
or, indeed, a prognosis on the expected quality of their life, we have to make sure that we don't put the first brick in a wall that will actually disable someone.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
James Comey
American Public Servant
Do not let fear become disabling. That is what the terrorists want. They want you to imagine them in the shadows; they want you to imagine them as something greater than they are.
Quote examples
Jeffrey Kluger
American Writer
What makes spinal-cord injuries as devastating as they are is that everything about them plays out in absolutes: they are instantaneous, utterly disabling and horribly permanent.
Quote examples
Sarah Gadon
Canadian Actress
When you're in a very specific kind of wardrobe, it kind of dictates your movement; it also kind of enables you - or, I guess, disables you - from certain kinds of movement.
Quote examples
Kanika Dhillon
Indian Author
I want to be a proud daughter of Punjab. Celebrate my roots - fly, flourish, write stories, characters. Don't hold me and my voice to ransom. Enable me, don't disable me!
Quote examples
Aimee Mullins
American Athlete
It's society that disables an individual by not investing in enough creativity to allow for someone to show us the quality that makes them rare and valuable and capable.
Quote examples
Evelyn Glennie
Scottish Musician
Society cannot continue to disable themselves through their need to categorize people or make assumptions as to another individual's abilities.
Quote examples
Jagmeet Singh
Canadian Lawyer
That's the thing about abuse - it can make the victim feel an overwhelming sense of shame, a shame so disabling that one suffers in silence.
Quote examples
Mark Udall
American Politician
Stem cells have the potential to be used to treat and better understand some of the world's most deadly and disabling diseases.
Quote examples
Ruth Rendell
British Writer
Both my parents had strokes. My father had several, but the last one was fatal. It's a horribly disabling bug, a stroke.
Quote examples
Stella Young
Australian Comedian
By far, the most disabling thing in my life is the physical environment. It dictates what I can and can't do every day.
Quote examples
James Comey
American Public Servant
Do not let fear become disabling. That is what the terrorists want. They want you to imagine them in the shadows; they want you to imagine them as something greater than they are.
Quote examples
Jeffrey Kluger
American Writer
What makes spinal-cord injuries as devastating as they are is that everything about them plays out in absolutes: they are instantaneous, utterly disabling and horribly permanent.
Quote examples
Sarah Gadon
Canadian Actress
When you're in a very specific kind of wardrobe, it kind of dictates your movement; it also kind of enables you - or, I guess, disables you - from certain kinds of movement.
Quote examples
Kanika Dhillon
Indian Author
I want to be a proud daughter of Punjab. Celebrate my roots - fly, flourish, write stories, characters. Don't hold me and my voice to ransom. Enable me, don't disable me!
Quote examples
Aimee Mullins
American Athlete
It's society that disables an individual by not investing in enough creativity to allow for someone to show us the quality that makes them rare and valuable and capable.
Quote examples
Evelyn Glennie
Scottish Musician
Society cannot continue to disable themselves through their need to categorize people or make assumptions as to another individual's abilities.
Quote examples
Jagmeet Singh
Canadian Lawyer
That's the thing about abuse - it can make the victim feel an overwhelming sense of shame, a shame so disabling that one suffers in silence.
Quote examples
Mark Udall
American Politician
Stem cells have the potential to be used to treat and better understand some of the world's most deadly and disabling diseases.
Quote examples
Ruth Rendell
British Writer
Both my parents had strokes. My father had several, but the last one was fatal. It's a horribly disabling bug, a stroke.
Quote examples
Stella Young
Australian Comedian
By far, the most disabling thing in my life is the physical environment. It dictates what I can and can't do every day.
Example 1 of 10
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