banish

[ ban-ish ]

verb (used with object)

1. to expel from or relegate to a country or place by authoritative decree; condemn to exile:

   He was banished to Devil's Island.

   Synonyms: deport, outlaw, expatriate, exile

2. to compel to depart; send, drive, or put away:

   to banish sorrow.

banish

/ ˈbænɪʃ /

verb

1. to expel from a place, esp by an official decree as a punishment
2. to drive away

   to banish gloom

Derived Forms

• ˈbanishment, noun

Other Words From

• ban·ish·er noun
• ban·ish·ment noun
• self-ban·ished adjective
• un·ban·ished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of banish¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English banisshen, from Anglo-French, Old French baniss-, long stem of banir, from unrecorded Frankish bannjan “to proclaim,” akin to ban ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of banish¹

C14: from Old French banir , of Germanic origin; compare Old High German ban

Example Sentences

She used electrolysis to banish the prickly hair from her delicate face.

From The Daily Beast

When it hits your city, be ready to lockdown your house and banish outside family members, they seem to suggest.

From The Daily Beast

Forget matters strategic, you may say; banish from your head all thoughts of a military or security handshake.

From The Daily Beast

Newspaper editorials called on colleges and high schools to banish football outright.

From The Daily Beast

But by attempting so strenuously to banish the doubts and suspicions that had arisen after Nov.

From The Daily Beast

But, fortunately, they had scant time for repining, and there is nothing like active occupation to banish useless brooding.

From Project Gutenberg

That would be fair and manly, and he would consent to it; but let them not banish the constitution from Ireland.

From Project Gutenberg

Gilbert strode to the door, but he paused with his hand on the knob, waiting for the last word to recall or banish him.

From Project Gutenberg

If I am incredulous, is it possible for me to banish from my mind the reasons which have unsettled my faith?

From Project Gutenberg

By satisfying longing for vengeance, he would banish into the impossible all life happiness.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dismiss
• dispel
• drive away
• eject
• eliminate
• eradicate
• evict
• exclude
• exile
• get rid of
• isolate
• ostracize
• oust
• outlaw
• relegate
• remove