disembarking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "disembarking" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the act of getting off a vehicle, such as a ship, plane, or train. Example: "After a long flight, we finally began disembarking from the airplane."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We came to Sorrento 20 years ago – by boat – but soon after disembarking my wife decided she didn't like it and we caught the next ferry back to Positano.

The Guardian - Travel

As a young guide, he would walk for four hours each morning to catch visitors disembarking from the train above Zermatt.

The Economist

As it rattled through sleeping English towns they would gossip and connive in the bar car, disembarking in Edinburgh or points north as the sun rose.

The Economist

People from India's north-eastern states crowd the railway station in Guwahati, Assam, after disembarking from a train from the southern city of Bangalore Source: AP Tens of thousands of migrant workers and students have fled some of India's southern cities.

The Economist

Among other things the double-decker plane, designed to carry 555 passengers, needs disembarking tubes that reach both decks.

The Economist

Whether the terminal could cope with an Airbus's 800 passengers boarding or disembarking at the same time is another question.

The Economist

Cruise ships are calling at Cozumel again, but disembarking passengers by tender, so fewer go ashore.In this section Stepping cautiously to the right Halfway back Reform or riot Evo ready or not Having their days in court ReprintsOn top of the $2 billion capital cost of repairs, Mr Aranda estimates that Wilma is costing the area $150m a month in lost tourism revenue.

The Economist

It involves flying in planes so creaky that landing in one piece is a pleasant surprise —then disembarking in airports so inhospitable that some visitors may want to take off again immediately.But, if he has the strength, beyond the whine of the Tupolev engines and the cracked runways, a frequent flyer can find in Russia's airports a useful encapsulation of the country's problems and oddities.

The Economist

On September 27 the wind changed, and William crossed to England unopposed, with an army of 4,000 to 7,000 cavalry and infantry, disembarking at Pevensey in Sussex.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The war started inauspiciously for Peter when King Charles XII of Sweden, disembarking suddenly on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, inflicted a severe defeat on the Russians before the fortress of Narva (November 1700).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Before disembarking from the Mayflower in 1620, the Pilgrim founders, led by William Bradford, demanded that all the adult males aboard who were able to do so sign a compact promising obedience to the laws and ordinances drafted by the leaders of the enterprise.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "disembarking" to add a touch of formality and precision, especially when describing travel or transportation scenarios in writing. It conveys a sense of planned movement from a vehicle or vessel.

Common error

Avoid using "disembarking" interchangeably with simpler terms like "getting off" in contexts that don't require formality. "Getting off" is more appropriate for casual conversation, while "disembarking" suits formal reports or announcements.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "disembarking" is as a present participle, often functioning as part of a continuous verb tense or as a gerund. Ludwig confirms its typical use in describing the act of leaving a vehicle.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Social Media

2%

Science

5%

Wiki

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "disembarking" functions as a present participle, often used to describe the action of leaving a vehicle or vessel. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts. While "disembarking" can be used in everyday conversation, it is generally more suited for formal writing or announcements. Alternatives such as "getting off" or "alighting from" may be more appropriate for informal settings. Key authoritative sources include The New York Times and The Economist. In summary, "disembarking" is a versatile term that adds a touch of formality and precision to writing when describing the act of exiting a mode of transportation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disembark

The base form of "disembarking", used as an imperative or infinitive.

getting off

A more informal and general way to describe leaving a vehicle.

stepping off

A simple and general way to describe leaving a vehicle.

leaving the aircraft

Specifically refers to exiting an airplane, often used in aviation contexts.

alighting from

A more formal term for getting off a vehicle, particularly trains or buses.

deplaning

An aviation-specific term for exiting an aircraft.

exiting the vessel

Refers to leaving a ship or boat, emphasizing the maritime context.

coming ashore

Used when leaving a boat or ship and arriving on land.

going ashore

Similar to "coming ashore", indicating arrival on land from a vessel.

offloading

Describes unloading cargo or passengers from a vehicle or vessel.

FAQs

How can I use "disembarking" in a sentence?

You can use "disembarking" to describe the act of leaving a vehicle, such as a ship or plane. For example: "The passengers were "disembarking" from the cruise ship."

What's a less formal alternative to "disembarking"?

A less formal alternative to "disembarking" is "getting off". For instance, instead of "disembarking from the bus", you could say "getting off the bus".

Is there a difference between "disembarking" and "deplaning"?

"Disembarking" is a general term for leaving any vehicle, while "deplaning" specifically refers to exiting an aircraft. Therefore, all instances of deplaning are disembarking, but not all disembarking is deplaning.

When is it appropriate to use "disembarking" instead of "getting off"?

Use "disembarking" in more formal contexts, such as official announcements, reports, or when you want to convey a sense of order and procedure. "Getting off" is suitable for casual conversation or informal writing.