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uninstall

American  
[uhn-in-stawl] / ˌʌn ɪnˈstɔl /
Or uninstal

verb (used with object)

Digital Technology.
  • uninstalls,
    present (3rd person singular)
  • uninstalled,
    past participle,  past
  • uninstalling
    present participle
  1. to remove (a software program) from a computer or computer system.


uninstall British  
/ ˈʌnɪnˌstɔːl /

verb

  1. computing to remove (a program)

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future


Etymology

Origin of uninstall

First recorded in 1980–85; un- 2 ( def. ) + install ( def. )


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

You don’t have to uninstall any apps or delete Facebook, though you could try it too.

From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2026

It advised users to uninstall the software or update to its latest version.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

He suggests that the smoke alarm industry has a responsibility to reduce nuisance alarms, which sometimes cause people to deactivate or uninstall the devices – a huge safety risk.

From BBC ● Jan. 15, 2026

Is it possible to install the latest version of Microsoft Office when I use Microsoft 365, or do I have to uninstall Microsoft 365 first?

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 11, 2023

First, you ought to uninstall or turn off any network services you're not using.

From Debian GNU/Linux : Guide to Installation and Usage by John Goerzen

Around the same time, U.S. app uninstalls for ChatGPT jumped 295%, which Sensor Tower linked to backlash over OpenAI’s deal with the Defense Department.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

Day-over-day uninstalls of the company's Chat GPT mobile app reportedly surged to 295% on Saturday, compared to a typical 9%.

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026

Every time they get into a fight, she uninstalls the apps.

From New York Times ● Sep. 24, 2016

He said multiple apps had been uninstalled from Flynn's phone before his wife's death, including Instagram and an AI-music generating app.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

Disrespect — who reportedly caught heat for livestreaming inside a bathroom while attending video game showcase E3 in 2019 — previously uninstalled multiple “Call of Duty” games in late 2022.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2023

I uninstalled the program using a Malwarebytes download to uninstall.

From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2022

Some built-in apps, such as Microsoft Edge, can only be uninstalled using the command prompt.

From The Verge ● May 4, 2022

You can stop and start it with Ctrl-s and Ctrl-q, respectively, and at the end of the run, you will get a list of any uninstalled packages.

From Debian GNU/Linux : Guide to Installation and Usage by John Goerzen

“If you’re still experiencing issues we recommend uninstalling and reinstalling the app,” the account posted.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 30, 2025

As prominent streamers voiced their support for Nickmercs, some of “Call of Duty’s” millions of global players seemingly began uninstalling various installments of the popular franchise from their consoles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2023

Google was ordered by India on Thursday not to restrict smartphone users from uninstalling its pre-installed apps like Google Maps and Gmail.

From Reuters ● Oct. 20, 2022

The network suggested various fixes through its Twitter account, including going into a different show and turning off subtitles, or uninstalling and reinstalling the app.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 22, 2022

Some players of the company's games, meanwhile, have threatened to boycott titles by cancelling subscriptions, uninstalling games, or refusing to buy new products.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2021

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