eliminate

verb

elim·​i·​nate i-ˈli-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce eliminate (audio)
eliminated; eliminating

transitive verb

1
a
: to put an end to or get rid of : remove
eliminate errors
b
: to remove from consideration
eliminate someone as a suspect
c
: to remove from further competition by defeating
the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs
2
: to expel (waste) from the living body
3
mathematics : to cause to disappear by combining two or more equations
eliminate an unknown quantity

intransitive verb

: to expel waste from the living body
eliminative adjective
eliminator noun

Examples of eliminate in a Sentence

Doctors seek to eliminate the causes of the epidemic. The body naturally eliminates waste products. The company plans to eliminate more than 2,000 jobs in the coming year. She's trying to eliminate fatty foods from her diet.
Recent Examples on the Web This is why most efforts fail–and why lasting progress requires eliminating all of the rules and then starting fresh with a new approach. Bill Anderson, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2024 The lawsuits alleged Zuffa violated antitrust laws by paying UFC fighters far less than they were entitled to receive and eliminating or hurting other MMA promoters. Todd Spangler, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024 Test first, find out what’s valuable and eliminate dead weight. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 The policies are intended to help the country meet Mr. Biden’s target of cutting U.S. greenhouse emissions in half by 2030 and eliminating them by 2050. Coral Davenport, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 The cuts included reducing hours at community centers and eliminating some recreational programs, drawing criticism from local leaders. Karin Brulliard, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 And the surest way to eliminate a culture is to eliminate their past. Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Americans must lead the international community in eliminating the tax havens that enable billionaires and large corporations to hide trillions in wealth and avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Bernie Sanders, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024 This week the drama heats up with the Women Tell All episode, in which previously eliminated contestants get to see Joey Graziadei, a 28-year-old teaching tennis professional, face to face again. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 18 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eliminate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin eliminatus, past participle of eliminare, from e- + limin-, limen threshold

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of eliminate was in 1628

Dictionary Entries Near eliminate

Cite this Entry

“Eliminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eliminate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

eliminate

verb
elim·​i·​nate i-ˈlim-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce eliminate (audio)
eliminated; eliminating
1
a
: to get rid of : remove
b
: to remove from further competition by defeating
2
: to expel from the living body
eliminative adjective
eliminator noun

Medical Definition

eliminate

transitive verb
elim·​i·​nate -ˌnāt How to pronounce eliminate (audio)
eliminated; eliminating
: to expel (as waste) from the living body

More from Merriam-Webster on eliminate

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