depose

/dɪˈpəʊz/ (bre, ipa) · [dɪpˈoz] /dɪˈpəʊz/ (ame, ipa) · [dɪpˈoz] /di-ˈpōz How to pronounce depose (audio) dē-/ (ame, mw)

depose — verb

  • deposepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • deposeshe / she / it
  • deposedpast simple
  • deposing-ing form

1. to make a king, president, or other leader lose official power and stop holding

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to make a king, president, or other leader lose official power and stop holding the highest position

例句

Parliament deposed the king after soldiers refused to obey him.

depose + ruler in a political crisis

The general tried to depose the president during a late-night radio speech.

depose + political leader

同義詞
  • oust

    broader and can also be used for businesses or rivals, not only rulers

  • dethrone

    specifically used for kings and queens

  • overthrow

    stresses bringing down a government or system, often by force

  • impeach

    focuses on the formal legal or political process, not the final removal itself

反義詞
  • install

    to place someone in a position of power or office

  • reinstate

    to give a removed leader or official the position back

文法句型

depose + ruler/leader

be deposed

用法筆記

Usually used for rulers, presidents, or other people at the top of a power structure. It is more formal and political than everyday words like 'remove', and the passive form is common when the focus is on the leader who lost power.

常見錯誤

❌The school deposed the old desks during the holiday.
✅The school removed the old desks during the holiday.
💡'depose' is used for powerful people, not ordinary objects.
❌Ella deposed her cousin from the dinner table.
✅Ella made her cousin leave the dinner table.
💡'depose' is about taking away official power, not moving someone from a normal place.

2. in legal English, to state something formally after swearing it is true, or to q

2.動詞及物 / 不及物C2
釋義

in legal English, to state something formally after swearing it is true, or to question someone so that this sworn statement can be recorded

例句

During the hearing, Nora deposed that the signature was not hers.

depose + that-clause in legal testimony

The attorney will depose two engineers before the safety case reaches court.

depose + person for formal questioning

同義詞
  • testify

    the normal modern legal verb for giving evidence under oath

  • attest

    formal and focused on declaring that something is true

  • question

    much broader and does not itself imply an oath or official record

文法句型

depose that + clause

depose + witness/person

be deposed

depose under oath

用法筆記

Used mainly in legal procedure. It can describe either making a sworn statement yourself or formally questioning another person to record that statement.

常見錯誤

❌Mira deposed her opinion in the meeting notes.
✅Mira stated her opinion in the meeting notes.
💡this legal sense is used for sworn statements, not ordinary comments.
❌The coach deposed the striker before Saturday's match.
✅The coach questioned the striker before Saturday's match.
💡outside legal settings, 'depose' is not the normal word for asking questions.