Disappear vs I'm gonna make this pencil disappear

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Disappear

Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb

I'm gonna make this pencil disappear

InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Most formal: DisappearMost common: Disappear
 DisappearI'm gonna make this pencil disappear
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˌdɪsəˈpɪə(r)/","/ˌdɪsəˈpɪəz/","/ˌdɪsəˈpɪəd/","/ˌdɪsəˈpɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/","/ˌdɪsəˈpɪrz/","/ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd/","/ˌdɪsəˈpɪrɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //aɪm ˈgʌnə meɪk ðɪs ˈpɛnsl dɪsəˈpɪr//🇺🇸 //aɪm ˈgʌnə meɪk ðɪs ˈpɛnsl dɪsəˈpɪr//
MeaningTo go away so you can't see something anymore.I will make this pencil go away.
ExampleThe rabbit seemed to disappear into thin air.The magician said, 'I'm gonna make this pencil disappear!' and the crowd gasped.
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsaltogether, completely, entirely, behind, from, into, disappear from sight, disappear from view, altogether, completely, entirely, behind, from, into, disappear from sight, disappear from view, altogether, completely, entirely, behind, from, into, disappear from sight, disappear from viewmake disappear, gonna make, pencil tricks, magic show, vanish in thin air
Antonymsappear, emerge, appear-
Common mistakesUsing 'disappear' without an object when it's not needed., Confusing with 'vanish' which can imply a more magical or sudden disappearance., Using 'disappear' in the present continuous for non-continuous situations.Using 'going to' instead of 'gonna' in informal speech., Confusing 'make disappear' with 'make appear'., Overusing in serious contexts.
Usage notesUse 'disappear' when talking about things that become invisible or cease to exist. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using in overly formal writing.This phrase is casual and often used humorously or for magic tricks. Not suitable for formal situations.

See it in real clips

Disappear
I'm gonna make this pencil disappear

Frequently asked questions: Disappear vs I'm gonna make this pencil disappear

What's the difference between Disappear and I'm gonna make this pencil disappear?

Disappear: To go away so you can't see something anymore. I'm gonna make this pencil disappear: I will make this pencil go away.

Which is more formal: Disappear and I'm gonna make this pencil disappear?

Disappear is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Disappear and I'm gonna make this pencil disappear?

Disappear is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Disappear: The rabbit seemed to disappear into thin air. I'm gonna make this pencil disappear: The magician said, 'I'm gonna make this pencil disappear!' and the crowd gasped.

Can I use Disappear and I'm gonna make this pencil disappear interchangeably?

Not always. Disappear and I'm gonna make this pencil disappear are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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