dismiss

verb

dis·​miss dis-ˈmis 

dismissed; dismissing; dismisses

transitive verb

1

: to permit or cause (someone) to leave

dismiss the visitors

Class is dismissed.

2

: to remove from position or service : discharge

He was dismissed [=fired] from his job.

Several employees were recently dismissed.

3

a

: to reject serious consideration of (something or someone)

dismissed the thought

dismissed her as an amateur

b

law : to put (an action) out of judicial consideration : to refuse to hear (an action) or to hear (an action) further in court

dismiss all charges

This case is dismissed.

4

: to put out (a batsman) in cricket

dismission

dis-ˈmi-shən 

noun

Synonyms

• ax
• axe
• bounce
• can
• cashier
• discharge
• fire
• muster out
• pink-slip
• release
• remove
• retire
• sack
• terminate
• turn off

Examples of dismiss in a Sentence

I don't think we should dismiss the matter lightly.

The students were dismissed early because of the snowstorm.

Several employees were recently dismissed.

Recent Examples on the Web

The judge issued a ruling to nolle the charges against him, meaning they would be dismissed. —David R. Cameron, Hartford Courant, 31 Dec. 2024

But dismissing these alternatives outright misses the point. —Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

However, Trump's two pending criminal matters—felony election subversion cases in Georgia and at the federal level—are all but certain to be dismissed or at least set aside due to his election victory, since sitting presidents cannot be criminally prosecuted under the law. —George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024

Musk publicly dismissed these worries, but environmental groups successfully pressured Tesla to reduce its water consumption. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, modification of Latin dimissus, past participle of dimittere, from dis- + mittere to send

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

dismiss

verb

dis·​miss dis-ˈmis 

1

: to send away : cause or allow to go

dismissed the troops

2

: to discharge from office, service, or employment

3

: to put aside or out of mind

dismiss the thought

4

: to refuse further judicial hearing or consideration to

the judge dismissed the charge

dismissal

-ˈmis-əl

noun

dismissive

-ˈmis-iv 

adjective

dismissively adverb

Etymology

derived from Latin dimissus, past participle of dimittere "to send away," from di-, dis- "away, apart," and mittere "to send, throw" — related to emit

Legal Definition

dismiss

transitive verb

dis·​miss

1

: to remove from position or service

dismissed the employee

2

: to bring about or order the dismissal of (an action)

the suit was dismissed

intransitive verb

: to bring about or order a dismissal

the plaintiff moved to dismiss