dismissed; dismissing; dismisses
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
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
An earlier December lawsuit had been dismissed by the judge, who said the organization did not sufficiently prove the president was exceeding his powers.
—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
One lawsuit, filed against Guadalupe Centers by former human resources director Shirley Folch, was eventually dismissed by agreement from the two sides last year, while another, filed against Guadalupe Centers Charter Schools by former Superintendent James Hammen, remains pending.
—Nathan Pilling
march 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Halbert's case was originally dismissed by Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson, who said the outside counsel hired by Shelby County government lacked standing to bring the ouster petition.
—Lucas Finton, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 31 Mar. 2026
Like the impish anti-romance that crumbles around it, the movie’s twist is both transgressive enough to be pleased with itself and also rooted in a reality that refuses to be dismissed as a bad joke.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismiss
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Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
One lawsuit, filed against Guadalupe Centers by former human resources director Shirley Folch, was eventually dismissed by agreement from the two sides last year, while another, filed against Guadalupe Centers Charter Schools by former Superintendent James Hammen, remains pending.
—Nathan Pilling
march 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Halbert's case was originally dismissed by Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson, who said the outside counsel hired by Shelby County government lacked standing to bring the ouster petition.
—Lucas Finton, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 31 Mar. 2026
Like the impish anti-romance that crumbles around it, the movie’s twist is both transgressive enough to be pleased with itself and also rooted in a reality that refuses to be dismissed as a bad joke.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismiss
Cite this Entry
“Dismiss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dismiss. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
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