eliminate

[ih-lim-uh-neyt]

verb (used with object)

eliminated, eliminating 

1. to remove or get rid of, especially as being in some way undesirable.

   to eliminate risks; to eliminate hunger.

   Synonyms: annihilate, exterminate, erase, eradicate, abolish, banish
   Antonyms: invite, get, obtain

2. to omit, especially as being unimportant or irrelevant; leave out.

   I have eliminated all statistical tables, which are of interest only to the specialist.

   Synonyms: exclude, except, delete, drop
   Antonyms: incorporate, admit, accept, include

3. to remove from further consideration or competition, especially by defeating in a contest.

4. to eradicate or kill.

   to eliminate the enemy.

5. Physiology.,  to void or expel from an organism.

6. Mathematics.,  to remove (a quantity) from an equation by elimination.

eliminate

/ ɪˈlɪmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to remove or take out; get rid of

2. to reject as trivial or irrelevant; omit from consideration

3. to remove (a competitor, team, etc) from a contest, usually by defeat

4. slang,  to murder in a cold-blooded manner

5. physiol to expel (waste matter) from the body

6. maths to remove (an unknown variable) from two or more simultaneous equations

Usage

Eliminate is sometimes wrongly used to talk about avoiding the repetition of something undesirable: we must prevent (not eliminate ) further mistakes of this kind

Other Word Forms

• eliminant noun
• eliminator noun
• eliminability noun
• eliminable adjective
• eliminative adjective
• noneliminative adjective
• preeliminate verb (used with object)
• uneliminated adjective
• well-eliminated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of eliminate¹

First recorded in 1560–70 and in 1915–20 eliminate for def. 4; from Latin ēlīminātus “turned out of doors” (past participle of ēlīmināre ), equivalent to ē- “from, out of” + līmin-, stem of līmen “threshold” + -ātus adjective suffix; e- ¹, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of eliminate¹

C16: from Latin ēlīmināre to turn out of the house, from e- out + līmen threshold

Example Sentences

Yet the Rockies, who were eliminated from playoff contention long ago, just may factor in who wins the National League West.

From Los Angeles Times

Florida is moving to eliminate all vaccine mandates in the state, including those for schoolchildren.

From Salon

Environmental Protection Agency said it will eliminate the ‘Solar for All’ program designed to help low-income households install solar panels on their homes.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite the ruling, Kari Lake, the acting chief executive of Voice of America’s oversight agency, posted on social media on Friday evening that 532 government positions were eliminated.

From Los Angeles Times

Cabaldon said that the changes would eliminate “outsized insurance requirements that don’t apply to any other forms of transportation, such as taxis, buses, or limos.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cancel 
• defeat 
• dispose of 
• disqualify 
• eradicate 
• erase 
• exclude 
• get rid of 
• ignore 
• knock out 
• oust 
• phase out 
• stamp out 
• waive 
• wipe out