eliminate

verb

elim·​i·​nate i-ˈli-mə-ˌnāt 

eliminated; eliminating

transitive verb

1

a

: to put an end to or get rid of : remove

eliminate errors

b

: to remove from consideration

eliminate someone as a suspect

c

: to remove from further competition by defeating

the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs

2

: to expel (waste) from the living body

3

mathematics : to cause to disappear by combining two or more equations

eliminate an unknown quantity

intransitive verb

: to expel waste from the living body

eliminative

i-ˈli-mə-ˌnā-tiv 

adjective

eliminator

i-ˈli-mə-ˌnā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• ban
• bar
• close out
• count (out)
• debar
• except
• exclude
• freeze out
• rule out
• shut out

Examples of eliminate in a Sentence

Doctors seek to eliminate the causes of the epidemic.

The body naturally eliminates waste products.

The company plans to eliminate more than 2,000 jobs in the coming year.

She's trying to eliminate fatty foods from her diet.

Recent Examples on the Web

Companies across industries have scrambled to reduce carbon footprints, embrace renewable energy, and eliminate waste; all in pursuit of a more environmentally friendly future. —Jason Phillips, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025

Streamlining licensing processes would reduce delays, eliminate redundant administrative costs and ensure that taxpayer dollars are used more effectively. —Charles E. Sydnor, Baltimore Sun, 18 Feb. 2025

The following night, Cade Cunningham was eliminated in the first round of the 3-point contest, which wasn’t a surprise given that Cunningham had the lowest 3-point percentage of the field this season. —Law Murray, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025

The rationale is straightforward: since the administration has eliminated the CEQ regulations, and agency regulations were based on them, agencies should now align their procedures with the new CEQ framework. —James Broughel, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin eliminatus, past participle of eliminare, from e- + limin-, limen threshold

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Kids Definition

eliminate

verb

elim·​i·​nate i-ˈlim-ə-ˌnāt 

eliminated; eliminating

1

a

: to get rid of : remove

b

: to remove from further competition by defeating

2

: to expel from the living body

eliminative

-ˌnāt-iv 

adjective

eliminator

-ˌnāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

eliminate

transitive verb

elim·​i·​nate -ˌnāt 

eliminated; eliminating

: to expel (as waste) from the living body