remove
rih-MOOV
Remove (verb) means to take something away from its place. Example: “Please remove your shoes before entering.”
verb
1
To take something away from its place.
"Please remove your shoes before entering."
"The doctor removed the stitches after two weeks."
"Remove the pan from the heat once the milk starts to boil."
2
To delete or eliminate something.
"She removed the typo before sending the email."
"Can you remove my name from the mailing list, please?"
"The software helps remove errors from large data files."
3
To dismiss someone from a job or position.
"The board voted to remove him as chairman."
"The manager was removed from his post after several complaints."
"Parents asked the school to remove the headteacher from her role."
noun
1
A degree of distance or separation, especially in the phrase "at one remove."
"He watched the events unfold at one remove, through the news."
"I only knew my grandfather at one remove, through the stories my mother told."
"Living at a remove from the busy town, they enjoyed the quiet."
How to use remove
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take something away, get rid of it, or take someone out of a position.
Common pairings
remove from
remove a stain
remove someone from office
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Word forms
- Plural
- removes
- Third person singular
- removes
- Past tense
- removed
- Archaic forms
- removest, removedst, removeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please _____ your shoes before entering.
Etymology
From Old French remouvoir, from Latin removere ("to move back"), from re- + movere ("to move").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for remove
See all rhymes for remove →Frequently asked questions
What does “remove” mean?
The word “remove” means to take something away from its place. In plain terms, to take something away, get rid of it, or take someone out of a position.
How do you pronounce “remove”?
“Remove” is pronounced rih-MOOV (/ɹɪˈmuv/ in IPA).
How do you use “remove” in a sentence?
Here is “remove” used in a sentence: “Please remove your shoes before entering.”
What is another word for “remove”?
Words with a similar meaning to “remove” include unstay, abate, bate, deduct, knock off and subduct.
What is the opposite of “remove”?
The opposite of “remove” — its antonyms — are settle, place and add.
What part of speech is “remove”?
Depending on how it is used, “remove” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “remove” come from?
The word “remove” comes from Latin. From Old French remouvoir, from Latin removere ("to move back"), from re- + movere ("to move").
Is “remove” a common word?
“Remove” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between 'remove' and 'delete'?
To remove is to take something away from its place — it may still exist somewhere else afterward. To delete usually means to erase permanently, especially data, text, or files. You can remove a file from one folder without deleting it, but deleting it destroys it completely.
What is the difference between 'remove' and 'eliminate'?
To remove is simply to take something away from where it is. To eliminate is to get rid of it completely, so it no longer exists at all. Eliminating is more total and final — you might remove a name from a list, but eliminate a problem entirely.
What is the opposite of 'remove'?
The opposite is to add, insert, place, or install — any action that puts something into position rather than taking it away. Where removing takes an item out of its spot, these words put an item in. You remove a battery to replace it, then insert a new one.
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