delete

[dih-leet]

verb (used with object)

deleted, deleting 

1. to strike out or remove (something written or printed); cancel; erase; expunge.

   Synonyms: eradicate

delete

/ dɪˈliːt /

verb

1. (tr) to remove (something printed or written); erase; cancel; strike out

Other Word Forms

• deletable adjective
• redelete verb (used with object)
• undeleted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of delete¹

1485–95; < Latin dēlētus (past participle of dēlēre to destroy), equivalent to dēl- destroy + -ē- thematic vowel + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of delete¹

C17: from Latin dēlēre to destroy, obliterate

Synonym Study

See cancel.

Example Sentences

Mrs Mills also denies perverting the course of justice by deleting messages and giving police a false account.

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You can delete your cameo appearances across all accounts if you want.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Following backlash from residents the comment was swiftly deleted. But the damage is done," she said.

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Reform UK has deleted social media posts after receiving a legal letter from the Labour Party.

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Nearly 2 million 23andMe customers deleted their data from the company’s database following the bankruptcy filing, its current chief executive said during the hearing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• annul 
• black out 
• cross out 
• cut out 
• destroy 
• eliminate 
• erase 
• expunge 
• omit 
• remove 
• wipe out 

When To Use

What is basic definition of delete?

Delete means to remove or destroy something, specifically something that is written, printed, or stored on a computer.Before the Internet, delete often referred to removing something from drafts of books, letters, newspapers, and other materials. Today, delete often refers to either hitting a key on a keyboard that erases text or telling a computer to get rid of a file, as by placing a document in the trash can. A person may also want to delete (deactivate) a social media account.

• Real-life examples: When you’re writing an essay, you might delete some paragraphs and add others. To better use data storage space, you might delete all of your junk email or delete a bunch of photos from your smartphone.



• Used in a sentence: The reporter deleted the final two paragraphs of the story in order to make it shorter.