Banish

/ˈbænɪʃ/

verbIntermediateCommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To expel or send away from a country or place; to exile.

/ˈbænɪʃ/

verbnegativeIntermediate
General

To send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment.

The dictator banished his political opponents.

💡 Simply: To send someone away permanently as a punishment.

More Examples

2

She was banished from her homeland for treason.

How It's Used

Legal

"The king banished the traitor from the kingdom."

Historical

"They were banished to Siberia."

2

To drive away; to eliminate.

/ˈbænɪʃ/

verbneutralIntermediate
General

To get rid of something completely.

He tried to banish the memory of the accident.

💡 Simply: To remove or get rid of something completely.

More Examples

2

Let's banish all doubt and proceed with the plan.

How It's Used

Figurative

"Try to banish negative thoughts from your mind."

Tip:To banish negative thoughts is to force them away from your mind.

From Old French *banir, from Old High German *banjan ('to proclaim, to announce, to order'); ultimately of Germanic origin.

Historically, banishment was a common punishment in many cultures, often involving exile to distant lands.

Memory tip

Think of 'ban' and 'ish' - to officially remove and make something disappear.

banichbanishe

Usage

20%Spoken
80%Written