verb
liquidate
LIHK-wih-dayt
Liquidate (verb) means to convert assets into cash, often to pay off debts. Example: “The company liquidated its stock to cover the outstanding loan.”
verb
1
To convert assets into cash, often to pay off debts.
"The company liquidated its stock to cover the outstanding loan."
2
To close down a business by settling its debts and distributing any remaining assets.
"The failing firm was forced to liquidate after years of losses."
3
To kill someone, especially for political reasons; to eliminate.
"The regime liquidated anyone seen as a threat to its power."
How to use liquidate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo turn assets into cash, to shut down a business formally, or (more grimly) to kill someone off.
Common pairings
liquidate assets
liquidate a company
liquidate debt
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- liquidates
- Past tense
- liquidated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company _____ its stock to cover the outstanding loan.
Etymology
From Late Latin liquidatus ("made clear, liquid") plus the verb-forming suffix -ate. The "kill" sense entered English as a borrowed meaning from Russian likvidirovat.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for liquidate
See all rhymes for liquidate →Frequently asked questions
What does “liquidate” mean?
The word “liquidate” means to convert assets into cash, often to pay off debts. In plain terms, to turn assets into cash, to shut down a business formally, or (more grimly) to kill someone off.
How do you pronounce “liquidate”?
“Liquidate” is pronounced LIHK-wih-dayt (/ˈlɪkwəˌdeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “liquidate” in a sentence?
Here is “liquidate” used in a sentence: “The company liquidated its stock to cover the outstanding loan.”
What part of speech is “liquidate”?
“Liquidate” is a verb.
Where does the word “liquidate” come from?
The word “liquidate” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin liquidatus ("made clear, liquid") plus the verb-forming suffix -ate. The "kill" sense entered English as a borrowed meaning from Russian likvidirovat.
How many meanings does “liquidate” have?
“Liquidate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to convert assets into cash, often to pay off debts.
