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

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

2. 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

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

4. (tr) to eliminate or kill

---

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

Explanation

If you liquidate something, you get rid of it. When a huge retailer has to close all of its stores, it liquidates everything, meaning the inventory and even the shelves and display cases are sold to bargain-hunters, to raise money for the company to pay its debts. Liquidate comes from the Latin liquidare, meaning “to melt,” or “to clarify.” A recipe might ask you to liquefy the butter, not liquidate it, because liquidate has to do with assets. To liquidate is to convert stocks or goods into cash by selling them, to finish business neatly, and to clear debts. If you liquidate your old baseball card collection, you will have money to put in your college fund.

Example Sentences

If the airline moves to liquidate, other airlines will likely look to backfill capacity, as they have in the past.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

All of this means that the no-frills carrier could have to liquidate and lay off some 14,000 workers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

If Spirit now has to liquidate, shareholders and creditors would take big hits, but they also took a big risk.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

The latest step in the long-running legal saga has seen Jones appealing against a ruling that would liquidate his company.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

“It's from that summer house he had. The one his father gave him that we never went to. He has to liquidate it and I’m getting the money!”

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez

Related Words

• abolish
• annul
• cancel
• eliminate
• exterminate
• get rid of
• wipe out