Remove
/rɪˈmuːv/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo take something away or eliminate it from a place, position, or context.
/rɪˈmuːv/
To take something away or off.
Please remove the trash from the kitchen.
💡 Simply: It's like when you take your toys away after playing, or when you delete a file on your computer. You're getting rid of it!
👶 For kids: To take something away, like when you take your toy out of the box.
More Examples
He removed his jacket because he was hot.
The dentist removed the tooth.
How It's Used
"Remove your shoes before entering the house."
"Remove the file from the system."
"The doctor removed the stitches."
To eliminate or get rid of something, often undesirable.
/rɪˈmuːv/
To eliminate or get rid of something.
The company removed the old equipment.
💡 Simply: Like deleting an unwanted email or kicking a bad habit. You're trying to make things better by getting rid of something.
👶 For kids: To get rid of something you don't want anymore, like throwing away old toys.
More Examples
The city council decided to remove the statue.
They were removed from the team due to poor performance.
How It's Used
"The government decided to remove the old policy."
"They removed the underperforming employees."
To put oneself or others into a state of isolation or withdrawal.
/rɪˈmuːv/
To distance oneself or others.
She removed herself from the discussion.
💡 Simply: Like taking yourself away from a stressful situation or avoiding a difficult person. You're creating distance.
👶 For kids: To go away from something, like when you walk away from a fight.
More Examples
He removed his team from the project because they were not collaborating.
He removed himself from the company
How It's Used
"She removed herself from the argument."
"He removed himself from the toxic relationship."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
remove the sting
To lessen the negative effects of something; to make a situation less painful or difficult.
"The company offered a severance package to remove the sting of the layoffs."
remove all doubt
To eliminate any uncertainty.
"The DNA evidence removed all doubt about his involvement."
From Old French *remouvoir*, from Latin *removere* ('to move back, put away'), from *re-* ('back, away') + *movere* ('to move').
Historically, 'remove' has been used to mean both literal removal and a metaphorical 'removal' from a situation or responsibility, dating back to Middle English.
Memory tip
Think of 're-move': moving something away.
Word Origin
"to move away, to move back"