depose
/dɪˈpəʊz/
Group 29Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To remove from office suddenly and forcefully; to testify or give evidence under oath GRE
Example in Context
The military coup deposed the elected president in the early hours of the morning, dissolving the parliament and suspending the constitution.
Synonyms
overthrowremovedethrone
Etymology
To place down from power — removing someone from office.
- de- (Latin) — down from
- ponere (Latin) — to place
Memory Aid
👑Sounds like “de-pose”
The king is DE-POSED while posing for a selfie — he never saw it coming!
Visual Association
⚖️A crown rolling off a throne as a confused king is suddenly yanked away.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “depose” mean on the GRE?
depose (verb) means “To remove from office suddenly and forcefully; to testify or give evidence under oath”. The military coup deposed the elected president in the early hours of the morning, dissolving the parliament and suspending the constitution.
How to remember “depose” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “depose” sounds like “de-pose”. The king is DE-POSED while posing for a selfie — he never saw it coming!
What are synonyms for “depose”?
Common synonyms: overthrow, remove, dethrone.