delete

verb

de·​lete di-ˈlēt 

dē-

deleted; deleting

transitive verb

: to eliminate especially by blotting out, cutting out, or erasing

delete a passage in a manuscript

delete a computer file

The email was accidentally deleted.

deletable

di-ˈlē-tə-bəl 

dē-

adjective

an easily deletable photo

Synonyms

• blue-pencil
• cancel
• cross (out)
• dele
• edit (out)
• elide
• kill
• scratch (out)
• strike (out)
• stroke (out)
• x (out)

Examples of delete in a Sentence

Delete this name from the list.

When the movie was shown on TV all the swearwords had been deleted.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Windows-maker has generated a raft of headlines this time around by confirming its new default and that users should be deleting passwords from their accounts. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025

This bill proposes to delete the requirement that the insurance policy name the HOA as an additionally named insured. —Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2025

All posts with the underage creator have been deleted from the Bop House page, though Rockelle and Rain’s personal posts are still up. —Sara Belcher, People.com, 1 May 2025

Meritage Homes was deleted from the Goldman select list, even as the bank continues to rate it a buy. —Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin deletus, past participle of delēre to wipe out, destroy

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing delete

• delete key

Rhymes for delete

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

Kids Definition

delete

verb

de·​lete di-ˈlēt 

deleted; deleting

: to eliminate especially by blotting out, cutting out, or erasing

delete a part of the story

delete a computer file

deletion

di-ˈlē-shən

noun