liquidate

[ lik-wi-deyt ]

verb (used with object)

, liq·ui·dat·ed, liq·ui·dat·ing.

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)

, liq·ui·dat·ed, liq·ui·dat·ing.

1. to liquidate debts or accounts; go into liquidation.

liquidate

/ 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 Words From

• non·liqui·dating adjective
• pre·liqui·date verb (used with object) preliquidated preliquidating
• re·liqui·date verb reliquidated reliquidating
• un·liqui·dated adjective
• un·liqui·dating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of liquidate¹

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

Example Sentences

Those that liquidated, such as Barneys New York, set redemption deadlines for outstanding cards.

From Fortune

Bankruptcy experts said Lord & Taylor’s decision to liquidate comes as a warning to other retailers in a similar position.

From Washington Post

In a letter to customers, chief executive Geoffroy van Raemdonck stressed that the retailer is not liquidating.

From Washington Post

Others, like Stage Stores and Lord & Taylor, have said they will liquidate all stores while searching for a buyer.

From Washington Post

“If you’re preventing these retailers from liquidating, that helps the whole industry, but yes, there are competitive concerns about how you make store closure decisions,” Tibone says.

From Ozy

“Economic diversity,” by contrast, brings economic difference into higher education in order to liquidate the difference.

From The Daily Beast

It is not enough to liquidate the most brutal forms of power and tell people they are now free.

From The Daily Beast

When a business runs into this sort of problem, we know what to do: liquidate and sell off the non-performing assets.

From The Daily Beast

As workers went on strike and the company threatened to liquidate, Hostess was essentially crippled.

From The Daily Beast

Stockman both predicts imminent raging inflation and urges investors to liquidate their investors and hide in cash.

From The Daily Beast

In due time, as Crothers did not liquidate, the firm became possessed of this tract.

From Project Gutenberg

The thing they all most fear is that some one will "start a run on the bank," force it to liquidate, and everyone will lose.

From Project Gutenberg

It is believed entirely practicable to liquidate the entire debt in seventeen years from the first payment.

From Project Gutenberg

The United States will liquidate every debt at the command of its honor, and every cent will be paid.

From Project Gutenberg

As soon as I can I will liquidate my indebtedness to you, and meanwhile I remain, etc.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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