Standard Lemma guide

deploy

noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /dɪˈplɔɪ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɔɪ
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 P L OY1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Deployment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences, software

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To prepare and arrange (originally military unit or units, i.e., to array troops) for use.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ergative, transitive

Examples

  • "Deploy two units of infantry along the enemy's flank," the general ordered.
  • deploy some lifeguards on the beach
  • Teachers can deploy a wide range of resources in their classrooms.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • He waited tensely for his parachute to deploy.
  • deploy the airbag
  • The airbag will deploy on collision.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To install, test and implement a computer system or application.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • The process for the deployment scenario includes: building a master installation of the operating system, creating its image and deploying the image onto a destination computer.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

place troops or weapons in battle formation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: position

Narrower terms: play

6

verb

Meaning 6

to distribute systematically or strategically

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The U.S. deploys its weapons in the Middle East

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: spread, distribute

Narrower terms: redeploy

History

Etymology

Borrowed from French déployer (“to unroll, unfold”), from Old French desploiier, itself from des- + ploiier, or possibly from Late Latin displicāre (“to unfold, display”), from Latin dis- (“apart”) + plicare (“to fold”). Compare Middle English desployen, dysployen (“to unfold, display”). Doublet of display.

Across languages

Translations

66 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: عَبَّأَ (ʕabbaʔa) — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Arabic: نَشَرَ (našara) — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Bulgarian: разгръщам (razgrǎštam) — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Chinese Mandarin: 部署 (bùshǔ) — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Czech: nasadit — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Finnish: sijoittaa — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Finnish: lähettää — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Finnish: laittaa — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Galician: despregar — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • German: aufstellen — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • German: formieren — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • German: aufmarschieren lassen — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • German: stationieren — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • German: in Stellung bringen — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Hungarian: bevet — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Hungarian: hadrendbe állít — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Hungarian: telepít — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Hungarian: üzembe helyez — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Hungarian: alkalmaz — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Hungarian: hasznosít — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Hungarian: igénybe vesz — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Italian: dispiegare — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Italian: collocare — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Japanese: 配置する (haichi suru) — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Korean: 배치하다 (baechihada) — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Māori: whakahora — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Portuguese: posicionar — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Romanian: desfășura — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Russian: развёртывать (razvjórtyvatʹ) — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Russian: разверну́ть (razvernútʹ) — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Russian: размеща́ть (razmeščátʹ) — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Russian: размести́ть (razmestítʹ) — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Serbo-Croatian: razviti — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Serbo-Croatian: zauzeti položaj — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Lower Sorbian: forměrowaś — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Spanish: desplegar — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Swedish: gruppera — to prepare and arrange (usually military unit or units) for use
  • Bulgarian: разгръщам се (razgrǎštam se) — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Finnish: avautua — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Finnish: valmistella — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Galician: despregar — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • German: öffnen — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • German: entfalten — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Hungarian: kinyílik — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Hungarian: kioldódik — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Hungarian: működésbe lép — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Japanese: ひらく — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Portuguese: disponibilizar — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Portuguese: abrir — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Romanian: desface — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Romanian: desfășura — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Russian: раскрыва́ться (raskryvátʹsja) — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Russian: раскры́ться (raskrýtʹsja) — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Spanish: desplegar — to unfold, open, or otherwise become ready for use
  • Dutch: uitrollen — to install, test and implement a computer system or application
  • Finnish: ottaa käyttöön — to install, test and implement a computer system or application
  • Finnish: asentaa — to install, test and implement a computer system or application
  • German: deployen — to install, test and implement a computer system or application
  • Hungarian: telepít — to install, test and implement a computer system or application
  • Hungarian: üzembe helyez — to install, test and implement a computer system or application
  • Italian: installare — to install, test and implement a computer system or application
  • Italian: fornire — to install, test and implement a computer system or application
  • Portuguese: lançar — to install, test and implement a computer system or application
  • Romanian: instala — to install, test and implement a computer system or application
  • Russian: устана́вливать (ustanávlivatʹ) — to install, test and implement a computer system or application
  • Russian: установи́ть (ustanovítʹ) — to install, test and implement a computer system or application