Disembark

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˌdɪs.ɪmˈbɑːk/

Definitions

1. To leave a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle after a journey
2. To come off from a mode of transportation, such as a ship or plane, after the travel has been completed
3. To step off a ship, plane, or other means of transport upon arrival

Etymology: Disembark is a plain compound: the prefix "dis-" (meaning "apart" or "away," and in English often used to reverse or undo an action) attached to "embark." The word's history therefore runs through "embark" rather than standing on its own. "Embark" entered English through Old French "embarquer," which was built from "en-" ("in") and "barque," a small boat, ultimately from Latin "barca." Its original sense was literally to put someone or something on a ship. The word "barque" also came into English as a separate term for a type of sailing vessel, so the two words share a root but reached English by different routes. Over time "embark" broadened from loading cargo or passengers onto a ship to beginning any venture, which is why a person can now embark on a career. "Disembark" kept the nautical sense and simply reversed it: to get off a ship, or by extension a plane or train, once the journey is over.

Synonyms: alight, debark, descend, get off, exit

Antonyms: embark, board