dismiss

[ dis-mis ]
See synonyms for: dismissdismisseddismissesdismissing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to direct (an assembly of persons) to disperse or go: I dismissed the class early.

  2. to bid or allow (a person) to go; give permission or a request to depart.

  1. to discharge or remove, as from office or service: to dismiss an employee.

  2. to discard or reject: to dismiss a suitor.

  3. to put off or away, especially from consideration; put aside; reject: She dismissed the story as mere rumor.

  4. to have done with (a subject) after summary treatment: After a perfunctory discussion, he dismissed the idea.

  5. Law. to put out of court, as a complaint or appeal.

Origin of dismiss

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin dismissus, from Latin dīmissus “sent away,” past participle of dīmittere “to send away,” from Latin dī, variant of dis- dis-1 + mitt(ere) “to let go, send”

synonym study For dismiss

2. See release.

Other words for dismiss

Opposites for dismiss

Other words from dismiss

  • dis·miss·i·ble, adjective
  • pre·dis·miss, verb (used with object)
  • re·dis·miss, verb (used with object)
  • un·dis·missed, adjective

Words Nearby dismiss

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use dismiss in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dismiss

dismiss

/ (dɪsˈmɪs) /


verb(tr)
  1. to remove or discharge from employment or service

  2. to send away or allow to go or disperse

  1. to dispel from one's mind; discard; reject

  2. to cease to consider (a subject): they dismissed the problem

  3. to decline further hearing to (a claim or action): the judge dismissed the case

  4. cricket to bowl out (a side) for a particular number of runs

sentence substitute
  1. military an order to end an activity or give permission to disperse

Origin of dismiss

1
C15: from Medieval Latin dismissus sent away, variant of Latin dīmissus, from dīmittere, from dī- dis- 1 + mittere to send

Derived forms of dismiss

  • dismissible, adjective
  • dismissive, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012