Synonyms

delete

American

[dih-leet] / dɪˈlit /

verb (used with object)

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

Synonyms:

eradicate

delete British

/ dɪˈliːt /

verb

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

"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

Usage

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.

Synonym Usage

See cancel.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of delete

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

Explanation

The author looked at the computer screen in horror. With one keystroke she had deleted her entire manuscript. Delete means to erase. Delete has its roots in Latin and was first used to mean destroy. In modern usage, delete means to remove completely. Delete used in writing means to edit by removing, often done by drawing a line through the text to be deleted . This process is also called “blue-penciling,” due to the use of the blue colored pencil that some editors use.

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Vocabulary lists containing delete

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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.

The woman alleged that Jackson repeatedly refused to delete the video and then taunted her with it.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

In this case, it wants the court to order Netflix to delete any data "deceptively collected from Texans", cease processing their data for targeted advertising and to turn auto-play off by default for children's profiles.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

Below, Addicks outlines her tactics to win people over, which pictures to delete from social media and what she thinks of #RushTok.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

They can also opt out of the sharing or sale of their personal information and request that businesses delete their data.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

I delete Hailey’s number from my phone too.

From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023