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dismiss

[dis-mis]
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dismiss ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

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RELATED WORDS

decline, expel, disband, reject, release, dissolve, oust, suspend, fire, recall, retire, terminate, sack, depose, impeach, discharge, disqualify, ridicule, deride, shed

Origin of dismiss

1400–50; late Middle English < Medieval Latin dismissus (for Latin dīmissus, past participle of dīmittere to send away), equivalent to Latin dis- dis-1 + mitt(ere) to send + -tus past participle suffix
Related formsdis·miss·i·ble, adjectivepre·dis·miss, verb (used with object)re·dis·miss, verb (used with object)un·dis·missed, adjective

Synonym study

2. See release.

Synonyms for dismiss

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dismiss ON THESAURUS.COM
3. fire.

Antonyms for dismiss

2. recall. 3. hire. 4. accept.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dismiss

Contemporary Examples of dismiss

Historical Examples of dismiss

  • Therefore, I dismiss the fear of untimely separation from my appointed work.

  • It will not do to dismiss this as unhealthiness or morbidness of mind.

  • Kingozi was about to dismiss him, but this arrested his intention.

    The Leopard Woman

    Stewart Edward White

  • This was a most unpleasant reflection and Martin preferred to dismiss it.

    Dust

    Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius

  • He had too much insight, and too much exact information as well, to dismiss them as rot.

    The Secret Agent

    Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for dismiss

dismiss

verb (tr)

to remove or discharge from employment or service
to send away or allow to go or disperse
to dispel from one's mind; discard; reject
to cease to consider (a subject)they dismissed the problem
to decline further hearing to (a claim or action)the judge dismissed the case
cricket to bowl out (a side) for a particular number of runs

sentence substitute

military an order to end an activity or give permission to disperse
Derived Formsdismissible, adjectivedismissive, adjective

Word Origin for dismiss

C15: from Medieval Latin dismissus sent away, variant of Latin dīmissus, from dīmittere, from dī- dis- 1 + mittere to send
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
Word Origin and History for dismiss
v.

early 15c., from Latin dimissus, past participle of dimittere "send away, send different ways; break up, discharge; renounce, abandon," from dis- "apart, away" (see dis-) + mittere "send, let go" (see mission). Prefix altered by analogy with many dis- verbs. Dismit, in the same sense, is attested from late 14c. Related: Dismissed; dismissing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper