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verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

vanish

VA-nihsh
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Vanish (verb) means to disappear suddenly, or to go out of sight without being noticed. Example: “The magician waved his cape and the coin seemed to vanish.”

verb
1
To disappear suddenly, or to go out of sight without being noticed.
"The magician waved his cape and the coin seemed to vanish."
"Fog rolled in and the mountains vanished from view."
2
To stop existing or to fade away completely.
"His confidence vanished the moment he stepped on stage."
"Any doubt about her talent vanished after the audition."

How to use vanish

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo vanish is to disappear, whether physically (from view) or more abstractly (a feeling, a problem, an opportunity fading away).

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "banish," which means to send someone away by force — vanish is about something disappearing on its own.

Easily confused with
banish →
Common pairings
vanish into thin air vanish from sight vanish without a trace
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Word forms

Plural
vanishes
Third person singular
vanishes
Past tense
vanished
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The magician waved his cape and the coin seemed to _____.

Etymology

A shortened form of the older word evanish, going back through Old French esvanir to Latin evanescere — "to fade out" — built from vanus, meaning "empty." It's a doublet of "evanesce."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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fell vaporize fly disappear

Antonyms

appear

Related words

seem drop flight fell appear fly mountain excellent

Rhymes for vanish

Danish banish Spanish
See all rhymes for vanish →

Frequently asked questions

What does “vanish” mean?
The word “vanish” means to disappear suddenly, or to go out of sight without being noticed. In plain terms, to vanish is to disappear, whether physically (from view) or more abstractly (a feeling, a problem, an opportunity fading away).
How do you pronounce “vanish”?
“Vanish” is pronounced VA-nihsh (/ˈvænɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “vanish” in a sentence?
Here is “vanish” used in a sentence: “The magician waved his cape and the coin seemed to vanish.”
What is another word for “vanish”?
Words with a similar meaning to “vanish” include disappear.
What part of speech is “vanish”?
“Vanish” is a verb.
Where does the word “vanish” come from?
The word “vanish” comes from Latin. A shortened form of the older word evanish, going back through Old French esvanir to Latin evanescere — "to fade out" — built from vanus, meaning "empty." It's a doublet of "evanesce.".
Is “vanish” a common word?
“Vanish” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “vanish” have?
“Vanish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to disappear suddenly, or to go out of sight without being noticed.

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