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Synonyms

exclude

American  
[ik-sklood] / ɪkˈsklud /

verb (used with object)

excluded, excluding
  1. to shut or keep out; prevent the entrance of.

    Synonyms:
    preclude, omit, except, prohibit, bar
    Antonyms:
    include
  2. to shut out from consideration, privilege, etc..

    Employees and their relatives were excluded from participation in the contest.

  3. to expel and keep out; thrust out; eject.

    He was excluded from the club for infractions of the rules.

    Synonyms:
    reject

exclude British  
/ ɪkˈskluːd /

verb

  1. to keep out; prevent from entering

  2. to reject or not consider; leave out

  3. to expel forcibly; eject

  4. to debar from school, either temporarily or permanently, as a form of punishment

"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

Other Word Forms

  • excludable adjective
  • excluder noun
  • exclusory adjective
  • preexclude verb (used with object)
  • unexcluded adjective
  • unexcluding adjective

Etymology

Origin of exclude

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin exclūdere “to shut out, cut off,” from ex- ex- 1 + -clūdere, combining form of claudere “to shut, close”

Compare meaning

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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.

Founders, early employees and early investors in qualifying startups can exclude a substantial portion of their gains from federal taxes if their company succeeds after years of risk and illiquidity.

From The Wall Street Journal

The core inflation rate—which excludes energy and food prices—is expected to remain close to target over the next three years, indicating that price stability will be maintained in the medium term.

From The Wall Street Journal

This excludes the participation of East and West Germany.

From BBC

Whatever the case, 2025 is shaping up to be the worst period of job creation in 16 years, excluding the pandemic era.

From MarketWatch

According to the authors, climate models often simplify or exclude these organisms, which can lead to an incomplete picture of how the ocean responds to climate change.

From Science Daily