vanish
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.”
How to use vanish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo vanish is to disappear, whether physically (from view) or more abstractly (a feeling, a problem, an opportunity fading away).
Don't confuse with "banish," which means to send someone away by force — vanish is about something disappearing on its own.
Word forms
vanished past tense, vanishes plural, vanishes singular
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."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for vanish
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include vanish: