demolish
d-MOL-ihsh
Demolish (verb) means to tear down or destroy a building or structure, usually deliberately. Example: “Crews demolished the old stadium to make way for apartments.”
verb
1
To tear down or destroy a building or structure, usually deliberately.
"Crews demolished the old stadium to make way for apartments."
"The council voted to demolish the derelict warehouse."
2
To thoroughly defeat, disprove, or destroy something such as an argument, theory, or opponent.
"Her closing argument demolished the defense's case."
"The champion demolished every challenger this season."
How to use demolish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo knock something down completely, or to crush an argument or opponent just as thoroughly.
Common pairings
demolish a building
demolish an argument
demolish the opposition
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- demolishes
- Past tense
- demolished
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Crews _____ the old stadium to make way for apartments.
Etymology
From Middle French demoliss-, a form of demolir ("to tear down"), from Latin dēmōlior, "to pull down."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for demolish
See all rhymes for demolish →Frequently asked questions
What does “demolish” mean?
The word “demolish” means to tear down or destroy a building or structure, usually deliberately. In plain terms, to knock something down completely, or to crush an argument or opponent just as thoroughly.
How do you pronounce “demolish”?
“Demolish” is pronounced d-MOL-ihsh (/dᵻˈmɒl.ɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “demolish” in a sentence?
Here is “demolish” used in a sentence: “Crews demolished the old stadium to make way for apartments.”
What part of speech is “demolish”?
“Demolish” is a verb.
Where does the word “demolish” come from?
The word “demolish” comes from Latin. From Middle French demoliss-, a form of demolir ("to tear down"), from Latin dēmōlior, "to pull down.".
Is “demolish” a common word?
“Demolish” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “demolish” have?
“Demolish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to tear down or destroy a building or structure, usually deliberately.
