eliminate

[ih-lim-uh-neyt]

verb (used with object)

eliminated, eliminating 

1. to remove or get rid of, especially as being in some way undesirable.

   to eliminate risks; to eliminate hunger.

   Synonyms: annihilate, exterminate, erase, eradicate, abolish, banish
   Antonyms: invite, get, obtain

2. to omit, especially as being unimportant or irrelevant; leave out.

   I have eliminated all statistical tables, which are of interest only to the specialist.

   Synonyms: exclude, except, delete, drop
   Antonyms: incorporate, admit, accept, include

3. to remove from further consideration or competition, especially by defeating in a contest.

4. to eradicate or kill.

   to eliminate the enemy.

5. Physiology.,  to void or expel from an organism.

6. Mathematics.,  to remove (a quantity) from an equation by elimination.

eliminate

/ ɪˈlɪmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to remove or take out; get rid of

2. to reject as trivial or irrelevant; omit from consideration

3. to remove (a competitor, team, etc) from a contest, usually by defeat

4. slang,  to murder in a cold-blooded manner

5. physiol to expel (waste matter) from the body

6. maths to remove (an unknown variable) from two or more simultaneous equations

Usage

Eliminate is sometimes wrongly used to talk about avoiding the repetition of something undesirable: we must prevent (not eliminate ) further mistakes of this kind

Other Word Forms

• eliminability noun
• eliminative adjective
• noneliminative adjective
• preeliminate verb (used with object)
• uneliminated adjective
• well-eliminated adjective
• eliminant noun
• eliminator noun
• eliminable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of eliminate¹

First recorded in 1560–70 and in 1915–20 eliminate for def. 4; from Latin ēlīminātus “turned out of doors” (past participle of ēlīmināre ), equivalent to ē- “from, out of” + līmin-, stem of līmen “threshold” + -ātus adjective suffix; e- ¹, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of eliminate¹

C16: from Latin ēlīmināre to turn out of the house, from e- out + līmen threshold

Example Sentences

As many millions of the game’s fans know, the daily Wordle asks players to guess a five-letter word in six chances through a process of eliminating letters.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The announcement is another blow to the UK steel industry, after a proposed deal to eliminate tariffs on UK steel exports to the US was put on hold indefinitely in September.

Read more on BBC

In his last outing — in the game in which the Phillies eliminated the Dodgers — Maddux was one of six Dodgers relievers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They discovered "security guards" that eliminate parts of the immune system that could attack the body.

Read more on BBC

The postseason was déjà vu all over again, however, with the Oilers eliminating the Kings.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cancel 
• defeat 
• dispose of 
• disqualify 
• eradicate 
• erase 
• exclude 
• get rid of 
• ignore 
• knock out 
• oust 
• phase out 
• stamp out 
• waive 
• wipe out