Synonyms

get rid of

Idioms

Also, be rid of. Eliminate, discard, or free oneself from. For example, It's time we got rid of these old newspapers, or He kept calling for months, but now we're finally rid of him. The first expression dates from the mid-1600s, the second from the 1400s. Also see get out of, def. 5.

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.

“Got to get rid of the panza,” Diego said, rubbing his only moderately round belly.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

The sooner you get rid of the latter, the better.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

The same year, South Africa's government vowed to get rid of them from schools entirely.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

“Let’s get rid of this investigation, so I can support your confirmation.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

“You’d have to work really hard to get rid of me,” Traveler said.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

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