remove

1 of 2

verb

re·​move ri-ˈmüv How to pronounce remove (audio)
removed; removing

transitive verb

1
a
: to change the location, position, station, or residence of
remove soldiers to the front
b
: to transfer (a legal proceeding) from one court to another
2
: to move by lifting, pushing aside, or taking away or off
remove your hat
3
: to dismiss from office
4
: to get rid of : eliminate
remove a tumor surgically

intransitive verb

1
: to change location, station, or residence
removing from the city to the suburbs
2
: to go away
3
: to be capable of being removed
removability noun
removable adjective
or less commonly removeable
removableness noun
removably adverb
remover noun

remove

2 of 2

noun

1
: removal
specifically : move sense 2c
2
a
: a distance or interval separating one person or thing from another
b
: a degree or stage of separation

Examples of remove in a Sentence

Verb Remove the trash from the front yard. My tonsils were removed when I was five years old. Trees help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These new findings should remove any doubt about his innocence. What's a good way to remove stains from a silk dress? The new law would remove obstacles to obtaining a work permit. He was removed from office. Noun She thrives when she's at some remove from mainstream society. their farm is just a remove of two miles from the town center
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
This removes the usual limitation in audio performance and offers listeners a cleaner sound without signs of lag or delay. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 Cesar Pina, the company’s North American chief supply chain officer, said in the statement that the company is removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the affected area, which includes Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming and parts of eight other states. Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
The war in Ukraine put Zoya at a new remove from her past and her family, many of whom still live in the country. Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2024 Like many other sports, Formula One has committed to achieving net-zero by 2030, meaning that those behind it pledge to dramatically reduce its carbon pollution and remove from the atmosphere any that remains. Sam Joseph, CNN, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for remove 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'remove.' 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

Verb

Middle English remeven, removen, from Anglo-French remuver, removeir, from Latin removēre, from re- + movēre to move

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of remove was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near remove

Cite this Entry

“Remove.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/remove. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

remove

1 of 2 verb
re·​move ri-ˈmüv How to pronounce remove (audio)
removed; removing
1
: to change or cause to change to another location, position, station, or residence
remove soldiers to the front
2
: to move by lifting, pushing aside, or taking away or off
remove your hat
3
: to dismiss from office
the treasurer was removed after a year
4
: to get rid of : eliminate sense 1
remove a tumor
5
: to go away
6
: to be capable of being removed
a bottle cap that removes easily

remove

2 of 2 noun
1
2
a
: a distance separating one thing from another
b
: a degree or stage of separation
at one remove

Legal Definition

remove

verb
re·​move ri-ˈmüv How to pronounce remove (audio)
removed; removing

transitive verb

: to change the location, position, station, status, or residence of: as
a
: to have (an action) transferred from one court to another and especially from a state court to a federal court see also separable controversy

Note: Section 1441 et seq. of title 28 of the U.S. Code allows a defendant who is brought into a state court to remove the action to federal district court when diversity of citizenship exists, when the action involves a claim or right arising under the U.S. Constitution or under laws or treaties of the U.S., or when the defendant is a foreign country or its agency or instrumentality. Civil actions and criminal prosecutions brought against an officer or agency of the U.S. for any act under color of office may also be removed.

b
: to dismiss from office
an independent counsel…may be removed from office…only by the personal action of the Attorney GeneralU.S. Code
c
: to take away
should his incapacity be removed by a judgment of a courtLouisiana Civil Code
removability noun
removable adjective
also removeable
removableness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on remove

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!