desplegar
verbCEFR B2
What does “desplegar” mean in English?
to deploy, to mobilise
to deploy, to mobilise (to send out forces, resources, or teams; desplegar tropas / medios)
Example sentences
Las autoridades decidieron desplegar unidades adicionales de policía para garantizar la seguridad durante la cumbre.
The authorities decided to deploy additional police units to guarantee security during the summit.
La empresa desplegó un ambicioso plan de comunicación para gestionar la crisis de reputación.
The company deployed an ambitious communications plan to manage the reputational crisis.
Las ONG desplegaron equipos de respuesta rápida en menos de veinticuatro horas tras la catástrofe.
The NGOs deployed rapid response teams in less than twenty-four hours after the catastrophe.
How to use it
Desplegar means 'to deploy' — moving forces, teams, resources, or capabilities into position for a specific operation or mission. Formal register: military, police, logistics, and strategic contexts. Takes a direct object: desplegar tropas, desplegar recursos, desplegar una estrategia. Stem-changing: despliega.
Common mistake
Desplegar is formal — don't use it for casual movement. The direct object can be concrete (tropas, equipos) or abstract (una estrategia, un plan). Desplegar vs. movilizar: both can mean deploy/mobilise, but desplegar implies ordered positioning into place, movilizar implies calling into action. Stem change: despliega (not *desplega).