Send vs. Dispatch: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 7, 2023
To send is to cause something or someone to go somewhere, while to dispatch usually means to send with a specific purpose or urgency, often related to official or formal matters.
Difference Between Send and Dispatch
To send is a broad term that encompasses the action of causing something or someone to go from one place to another. This action can be physical, as in mailing a letter, or virtual, like sending an email. The word "send" can be applied in numerous contexts and doesn't necessarily imply any particular speed, urgency, or purpose. On the other hand, the term "dispatch" carries a nuance of specific intention, often aligned with official, urgent, or formal matters.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Dispatch often implies a more formal or organized sending. For example, an ambulance might be dispatched to a location, or troops could be dispatched to a conflict zone. The usage of "dispatch" also frequently involves efficiency or promptness. In contrast, "send" doesn't inherently suggest any specific level of formality or efficiency.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Another distinct aspect is the realm of communication. While both "send" and "dispatch" can be used in communicative contexts, dispatch might be more commonly used when referring to sending off goods, messages, or emissaries with a clear mission or directive. Conversely, "send" is a more general term that can be used for almost any act of causing something to go somewhere.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Lastly, "dispatch" can also mean to complete a task quickly or to kill something or someone, diverging from the general meaning of "send". While "send" remains rooted in the act of causing movement or delivery, "dispatch" has this additional layer, further distinguishing the two terms.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Send vs. Dispatch Comparison Chart
Common Usage
Mailing, communication, directives
Official matters, goods, messages with a mission
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Send vs. Dispatch Definitions
◉Send
To transmit a message or communication.
Can you send me an email with the details?
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
◉Dispatch
To deal with quickly and efficiently.
She dispatched her tasks before lunch.
Lucas
Sep 07, 2023
◉Send
To direct or order to go.
The principal will send him to the counselor's office.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
◉Dispatch
To kill with quick efficiency.
The hunter dispatched the wounded animal.
Jonathan
Sep 07, 2023
◉Send
To cause to be conveyed by an intermediary to a destination
send goods by plane.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
To relegate to a specific destination or send on specific business.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
A written message, particularly an official communication, sent with speed.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
An important message sent by a diplomat or an officer in the armed forces.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To direct (a person) to a source of information; refer
sent the student to the reference section of the library.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To give off (heat, for example); emit or issue
a stove that sends forth great warmth.
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May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
(transitive) To send (an important official message) promptly, by means of a diplomat or military officer.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To hit so as to direct or propel with force; drive
The batter sent the ball to left field. The slap on my back sent me staggering.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
(transitive) To send (a journalist) to a place in order to report.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To cause to take place or occur
We will meet whatever vicissitudes fate may send.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
(transitive) To dispose of speedily, as business; to execute quickly; to make a speedy end of; to finish; to perform.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To put or drive into a given state or condition
horrifying news that sent them into a panic.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
(Slang) To transport with delight; carry away
That music really sends me.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
(transitive) To destroy (someone or something) quickly and efficiently.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To dispatch someone to do an errand or convey a message
Let's send out for hamburgers.
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May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
To pass on for further processing, especially via a dispatch table (often with to).
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May 03, 2023
◉Send
To dispatch a request or order, especially by mail
send away for a new catalogue.
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May 03, 2023
◉Send
To transmit a message or messages
The radio operator was still sending when the ship went down.
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May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
A message sent quickly, as a shipment, a prompt settlement of a business, or an important official message sent by a diplomat, government official, military officer, etc.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To make something (such as an object or message) go from one place to another (or to someone).
Every day at two o'clock, he sends his secretary out to buy him a coffee.
She sends me a letter every month.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
The act of doing something quickly.
We must act with dispatch in this matter.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
A mission by an emergency response service, typically involving attending to an emergency in the field.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
(computing) The passing on of a message for further processing, especially through a dispatch table.
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May 03, 2023
◉Send
To dispatch an agent or messenger to convey a message or do an errand.
Seeing how ill she was, we sent for a doctor at once.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
(transitive) To cause to be or to happen; to bring, bring about; (archaic) to visit: (Referring to blessing or reward) To bestow; to grant. (Referring to curse or punishment) To inflict. Sometimes followed by a dependent proposition.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
To dispose of speedily, as business; to execute quickly; to make a speedy end of; to finish; to perform.
Ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch weThe business we have talked of.
[The] harvest men . . . almost in one fair day dispatcheth all the harvest work.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
To rid; to free.
I had clean dispatched myself of this great charge.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To make a successful ascent of a sport climbing route.
She finally sent the 12a after hours of failed attempts.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
To get rid of by sending off; to send away hastily.
Unless dispatched to the mansion house in the country . . . they perish among the lumber of garrets.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
To send off or away; - particularly applied to sending off messengers, messages, letters, etc., on special business, and implying haste.
Even with the speediest expeditionI will dispatch him to the emperor's cou .
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
To send out of the world; to put to death.
The company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
An icon (usually on a computer screen and labeled with the word "Send") on which one clicks (with a mouse or its equivalent) or taps to transmit an email or other electronic message.
Good thing I didn't hit send on that resume; I just noticed a bad typo.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
To make haste; to conclude an affair; to finish a matter of business.
They have dispatched with Pompey.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
The act of sending a message or messenger in haste or on important business.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
Any sending away; dismissal; riddance.
To the utter dispatch of all their most beloved comforts.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
A callout or diss usually aimed at a specific person, often in the form of a diss track.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
The finishing up of a business; speedy performance, as of business; prompt execution; diligence; haste.
Serious business, craving quick dispatch.
To carry his scythe . . . with a sufficient dispatch through a sufficient space.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
A message dispatched or sent with speed; especially, an important official letter sent from one public officer to another; - often used in the plural; as, a messenger has arrived with dispatches for the American minister; naval or military dispatches.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To cause to go in any manner; to dispatch; to commission or direct to go; as, to send a messenger.
I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran.
I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Servants, sent on messages, stay out somewhat longer than the message requires.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To give motion to; to cause to be borne or carried; to procure the going, transmission, or delivery of; as, to send a message.
He . . . sent letters by posts on horseback.
O send out thy light an thy truth; let them lead me.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To emit; to impel; to cast; to throw; to hurl; as, to send a ball, an arrow, or the like.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To cause to be or to happen; to bestow; to inflict; to grant; - sometimes followed by a dependent proposition.
The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke.
And sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
God send your mission may bring back peace.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
the property of being prompt and efficient;
it was done with dispatch
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To dispatch an agent or messenger to convey a message, or to do an errand.
See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away my head?
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To pitch; as, the ship sends forward so violently as to endanger her masts.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
cause to go somewhere;
The explosion sent the car flying in the air
She sent her children to camp
He directed all his energies into his dissertation
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
kill intentionally and with premeditation;
The mafia boss ordered his enemies murdered
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
to cause or order to be taken, directed, or transmitted to another place;
He had sent the dispatches downtown to the proper people and had slept
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently;
He dispatched the task he was assigned
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
cause to be directed or transmitted to another place;
send me your latest results
I'll mail you the paper when it's written
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
kill without delay;
the traitor was dispatched by the conspirators
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Dispatch
To send off to a destination or for a purpose.
The company will dispatch the goods by Friday.
Kaitlyn
Sep 07, 2023
◉Dispatch
To send out officially; to send on a mission.
The mayor dispatched a representative to the meeting.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
◉Dispatch
To send a message or communication with speed.
Dispatch a telegram to the headquarters.
Lucas
Sep 07, 2023
◉Send
cause to be admitted; of persons to an institution;
After the second episode, she had to be committed
he was committed to prison
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television;
We cannot air this X-rated song
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Send
To cause to go or be taken to a particular destination.
She will send the package tomorrow.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
◉Send
To cause to be in a specified state.
His comments sent her into a fit of laughter.
Kaitlyn
Sep 07, 2023
◉Send
To propel or cause to move in a particular direction.
The pitcher can send the ball at incredible speeds.
Lucas
Sep 07, 2023
Send vs. Dispatch Frequently Asked Questions
Is dispatch always about sending something?
No, dispatch can also mean to complete a task quickly or to kill something.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Which word implies more urgency?
Dispatch often implies a sense of urgency or efficiency.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
What does send generally imply?
To send is to cause something or someone to go somewhere.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Is send limited to physical movement?
No, send can also refer to virtual actions, like sending an email.
Olivia
Sep 07, 2023
Is send more informal than dispatch?
Send is neutral in formality, while dispatch often leans towards more formal contexts.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Can both send and dispatch be used in communication contexts?
Yes, but dispatch is often used when referring to sending with a clear mission or directive, while send is broader.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
How is dispatch different from send in terms of formality?
Dispatch often implies a more formal or organized sending, typically related to official or urgent matters.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
When would you use dispatch in the context of goods?
When referring to the official or prompt sending of goods, like dispatching a shipment.
Kaitlyn
Sep 07, 2023
Can dispatch refer to killing?
Yes, dispatch can mean to kill with quick efficiency.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Would you use dispatch to refer to sending a casual message to a friend?
Not typically; "send" would be more appropriate for casual communication.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 07, 2023
Content Creators
Written by
Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
Edited by
Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
