eliminate
ih-LIHM-ih-nayt
Eliminate (verb) means to completely remove or get rid of something. Example: “Good planning can eliminate most of the stress from moving house.”
verb
1
To completely remove or get rid of something.
"Good planning can eliminate most of the stress from moving house."
"The new filter eliminates almost all bacteria from the water."
"They eliminated the extra step to speed up the process."
2
To knock a competitor or option out of a contest or list of possibilities.
"Our team was eliminated after losing the semi-final match."
"The quiz show eliminates one contestant every week until only one remains."
"She was eliminated in the first round of the tournament."
How to use eliminate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo get rid of something completely, or to knock someone out of a competition.
Common pairings
eliminate the risk
eliminate a competitor
eliminate waste
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- eliminates
- Past tense
- eliminated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Good planning can _____ most of the stress from moving house.
Etymology
From Latin ēlīminō, literally "to turn out of doors," from ē- ("out") plus līmen ("threshold").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for eliminate
See all rhymes for eliminate →Frequently asked questions
What does “eliminate” mean?
The word “eliminate” means to completely remove or get rid of something. In plain terms, to get rid of something completely, or to knock someone out of a competition.
How do you pronounce “eliminate”?
“Eliminate” is pronounced ih-LIHM-ih-nayt (/ɪˈlɪm.ɪ.neɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “eliminate” in a sentence?
Here is “eliminate” used in a sentence: “The new filter eliminates almost all bacteria from the water.”
What part of speech is “eliminate”?
“Eliminate” is a verb.
Where does the word “eliminate” come from?
The word “eliminate” comes from Latin. From Latin ēlīminō, literally "to turn out of doors," from ē- ("out") plus līmen ("threshold").
Is “eliminate” a common word?
“Eliminate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “eliminate” have?
“Eliminate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to completely remove or get rid of something.
What is the difference between eliminate and remove?
Eliminate means to get rid of something completely, so that none of it remains, while remove simply means to take something away from a place or position. You can remove an item and put it elsewhere, but to eliminate it is to do away with it entirely.
What is the difference between eliminate and reduce?
Eliminate means to remove something completely so that it no longer exists, whereas reduce means to make something smaller or less without getting rid of it entirely. Eliminating a cost removes it altogether; reducing a cost only makes it lower.
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