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dismiss

[dis-mis]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to direct (an assembly of persons) to disperse or go: I dismissed the class early.
  2. to bid or allow (a person) to go; give permission or a request to depart.
  3. to discharge or remove, as from office or service: to dismiss an employee.
  4. to discard or reject: to dismiss a suitor.
  5. to put off or away, especially from consideration; put aside; reject: She dismissed the story as mere rumor.
  6. to have done with (a subject) after summary treatment: After a perfunctory discussion, he dismissed the idea.
  7. Law. to put out of court, as a complaint or appeal.
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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

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3. fire.

Antonyms

2. recall. 3. hire. 4. accept.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for dismiss

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • 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)
  1. to remove or discharge from employment or service
  2. to send away or allow to go or disperse
  3. to dispel from one's mind; discard; reject
  4. to cease to consider (a subject)they dismissed the problem
  5. to decline further hearing to (a claim or action)the judge dismissed the case
  6. cricket to bowl out (a side) for a particular number of runs
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sentence substitute
  1. military an order to end an activity or give permission to disperse
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Derived Formsdismissible, adjectivedismissive, adjective

Word Origin

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper