dismiss
dihz-MIHS
Dismiss (verb) means to fire someone from a job, or to formally end someone's employment. Example: “She was dismissed after repeated lateness.”
verb
1
To fire someone from a job, or to formally end someone's employment.
"She was dismissed after repeated lateness."
"The manager was dismissed for stealing money from the till."
"Employers must follow a fair process before they dismiss a member of staff."
2
To refuse to take something seriously or to consider it worth thinking about.
"He dismissed the rumor as nonsense."
"Please don't dismiss her worries, because she really believes something is wrong."
"The scientist dismissed the claim as unworthy of any further discussion."
3
To tell someone they are free to leave.
"The teacher dismissed the class early."
"The judge dismissed the jury after thanking them for their time."
"When the bell rang, the headteacher dismissed the pupils and they ran outside."
How to use dismiss
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo send away, reject, or refuse to give something further consideration.
Common pairings
dismiss a claim
dismiss an employee
dismiss out of hand
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- dismisses
- Past tense
- dismissed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was _____ after repeated lateness.
Etymology
From Latin dimissus, "sent away," the past participle of dimittere (dis- + mittere, "to send").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “dismiss” mean?
The word “dismiss” means to fire someone from a job, or to formally end someone's employment. In plain terms, to send away, reject, or refuse to give something further consideration.
How do you pronounce “dismiss”?
“Dismiss” is pronounced dihz-MIHS (/dɪsˈmɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “dismiss” in a sentence?
Here is “dismiss” used in a sentence: “She was dismissed after repeated lateness.”
What part of speech is “dismiss”?
“Dismiss” is a verb.
Where does the word “dismiss” come from?
The word “dismiss” comes from Latin. From Latin dimissus, "sent away," the past participle of dimittere (dis- + mittere, "to send").
Is “dismiss” a common word?
“Dismiss” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “dismiss” have?
“Dismiss” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fire someone from a job, or to formally end someone's employment.
What is the difference between dismiss and fire?
Dismiss is a somewhat more formal or neutral term for ending someone's employment, often used in official or legal contexts. Fire is the more common, everyday word for the same action, especially in casual conversation.
What is the difference between dismiss and ignore?
Dismiss means to actively refuse to take something seriously or judge it not worth considering, often after some thought. Ignore simply means to pay no attention to something at all, without necessarily evaluating it first.
