First Known Use: 1616
Dictionary
deploy
verb de·ploy \di-ˈplȯi\
: to organize and send out (people or things) to be used for a particular purpose
: to open up and spread out the parts of (something, such as a parachute)
Full Definition of DEPLOY
transitive verb
1
a : to extend (a military unit) especially in width b : to place in battle formation or appropriate positions
2
: to spread out, utilize, or arrange for a deliberate purpose <deploy a sales force> <deploy a parachute>
intransitive verb
: to move, spread out, or function while being deployed <the troops deployed along the front> <the parachute failed to deploy>
— de·ploy·able \-ə-bəl\ adjective
— de·ploy·ment \-mənt\ noun
See deploy defined for English-language learners
See deploy defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of DEPLOY
French déployer, literally, to unfold, from Old French desploier, from des- dis- + ploier, plier to fold — more at ply
Rhymes with DEPLOY
ahoy, alloy, annoy, bad boy, ball boy, batboy, B-boy, beachboy, bellboy, bell buoy, best boy, big boy, bok choy, borzoi, boy toy, busboy, callboy, carboy, charpoy, choirboy, convoy, cowboy, decoy, destroy, doughboy, employ, enjoy, envoy, flyboy, footboy, Hanoi, hautbois, highboy, homeboy, houseboy, killjoy, Khoikhoi, life buoy, linkboy, lowboy, McCoy, newsboy, old boy, page boy, playboy, plowboy, po'boy, postboy, potboy, Quemoy, Rob Roy, Saint Croix, Savoy, schoolboy, sepoy, stock boy, tallboy, tatsoi, teapoy, Tolstoy, tomboy, travois, viceroy
Learn More About DEPLOY
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up deploy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).