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Synonyms

liquidate

American  
[lik-wi-deyt] / ˈlɪk wɪˌdeɪt /

verb (used with object)

liquidated, liquidating
  1. to settle or pay (a debt).

    to liquidate a claim.

    Synonyms:
    cancel, erase, clear, discharge
  2. to reduce (accounts) to order; determine the amount of (indebtedness or damages).

  3. to convert (inventory, securities, or other assets) into cash.

  4. to get rid of, especially by killing.

    to liquidate the enemies of the regime.

  5. to break up or do away with.

    to liquidate a partnership.


verb (used without object)

liquidated, liquidating
  1. to liquidate debts or accounts; go into liquidation.

liquidate British  
/ ˈlɪkwɪˌdeɪt /

verb

    1. to settle or pay off (a debt, claim, etc)

    2. to determine by litigation or agreement the amount of (damages, indebtedness, etc)

    1. to terminate the operations of (a commercial firm, bankrupt estate, etc) by assessment of liabilities and appropriation of assets for their settlement

    2. (of a commercial firm, etc) to terminate operations in this manner

  1. (tr) to convert (assets) into cash

  2. (tr) to eliminate or kill

"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

  • nonliquidating adjective
  • preliquidate verb (used with object)
  • reliquidate verb
  • unliquidated adjective
  • unliquidating adjective

Etymology

Origin of liquidate

1565–75; 1920–25 liquidate for def. 4; < Late Latin liquidātus, past participle of liquidāre to melt, make clear. See liquid, -ate 1

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.

For the rest, I could take $400,000 out of an inherited Roth IRA that must be liquidated within 10 years.

From MarketWatch

Campbell says foreigners are still not liquidating their trillions in U.S. stock and debt.

From MarketWatch

There is also more supply on the secondhand market as people try to liquidate expensive watches for cash, which is pressuring values.

From The Wall Street Journal

The technique is feasible only as long as a fund has cash—or can borrow more—to fund payouts rather than liquidating its investment.

From The Wall Street Journal

Both, he said, had been expected to be liquidated in months.

From The Wall Street Journal