dismiss
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to direct (an assembly of persons) to disperse or go.
I dismissed the class early.
-
to bid or allow (a person) to go; give permission or a request to depart.
- Antonyms:
- recall
-
to discharge or remove, as from office or service.
to dismiss an employee.
- Synonyms:
- fire
- Antonyms:
- hire
-
to discard or reject.
to dismiss a suitor.
- Antonyms:
- accept
-
to put off or away, especially from consideration; put aside; reject.
She dismissed the story as mere rumor.
-
to have done with (a subject) after summary treatment.
After a perfunctory discussion, he dismissed the idea.
-
Law. to put out of court, as a complaint or appeal.
verb
-
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
Related Words
See release.
Other Word Forms
- dismissible adjective
- dismissive adjective
- predismiss verb (used with object)
- redismiss verb (used with object)
- undismissed adjective
Etymology
Origin of dismiss
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin dismissus, from Latin dīmissus “sent away,” past participle of dīmittere “to send away,” from Latin dī, variant of dis- dis- 1 + mitt(ere) “to let go, send”
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 government filed a motion to dismiss the case late last year, arguing that the federal court did not have jurisdiction over the matter.
From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026
Her division has reviewed a slew of police consent decrees and has successfully petitioned judges to dismiss two—in Minneapolis and Louisville, Ky. Investigations have also been closed in Phoenix; Trenton, N.J.;
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
“As a woman with agency, she decided to settle the case and accepted money to dismiss her lawsuit.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
The population-level signal, however, is hard to dismiss.
From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026
He waved a hand to dismiss the question.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
