delete
dih-LEET
Delete (verb) means to remove or erase something, especially text or digital data. Example: “I deleted the old messages to free up space on my phone.”
verb
1
To remove or erase something, especially text or digital data.
"I deleted the old messages to free up space on my phone."
"She accidentally deleted the entire folder of photos."
"Please delete my email address from your mailing list."
noun
1
The key on a keyboard used to erase text or files.
"Press the delete key twice to remove the last two letters."
"The delete on this old keyboard sticks every time I use it."
"He hit delete and the whole paragraph vanished."
How to use delete
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo get rid of something, usually a file, message, or piece of text.
Common mistake
Not related to "deleterious" (harmful), despite the similar spelling.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
delete a file
delete key
delete an account
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- deletes
- Past tense
- deleted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I _____ the old messages to free up space on my phone.
Etymology
From Latin delere, "to destroy or wipe out." The computing sense only caught on in the late 1970s.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for delete
See all rhymes for delete →Frequently asked questions
What does “delete” mean?
The word “delete” means to remove or erase something, especially text or digital data. In plain terms, to get rid of something, usually a file, message, or piece of text.
How do you pronounce “delete”?
“Delete” is pronounced dih-LEET (/dɪˈliːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “delete” in a sentence?
Here is “delete” used in a sentence: “She accidentally deleted the entire folder of photos.”
What is another word for “delete”?
Words with a similar meaning to “delete” include erase, clear, strike, terminate, remove and redact.
What is the opposite of “delete”?
The opposite of “delete” — its antonyms — are insert and maintain.
What part of speech is “delete”?
Depending on how it is used, “delete” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “delete” come from?
The word “delete” dates back to around 1970 and comes from Latin. From Latin delere, "to destroy or wipe out." The computing sense only caught on in the late 1970s.
Is “delete” a common word?
“Delete” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "delete" and "erase"?
Both mean to remove something and they overlap closely, but "delete" is especially common for text or digital data such as files and messages, while "erase" is often used for wiping something physical or clearing a surface. You delete an email and erase a whiteboard.
What is the difference between "delete" and "remove"?
"Delete" means to erase text or digital data so it is gone, while "remove" more broadly means to take something away, which may relocate it rather than destroy it. Deleting a file erases it; removing a file from a folder might just move it elsewhere.
What is the difference between the Delete and Backspace keys?
As a noun, "delete" is the keyboard key used to erase text or files; it typically removes the character to the right of the cursor, while Backspace removes the character to the left. On many keyboards the key is labelled "Del."
What is the opposite of "delete"?
The opposite of "delete" is to add or insert new content, and in software an "undo" or "restore" action reverses a deletion. These bring back or introduce content rather than removing it.
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