WordGarden.ioremove
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /rɪmˈuːv/
US
- /riˈmuv/
Meanings
Verb
to take something away from a place, surface, or position
to get rid of or eliminate something unwanted
to delete or uninstall digital content, files, or software
More meaningsFewer meanings
to dismiss someone from a job, role, or office
to surgically take out a body part, growth, or foreign object
Beyond the definition
To remove something means to take it away from a place, get rid of it, or make it no longer part of something. You might remove stains from clothing, remove an obstacle from your path, or even remove yourself from a difficult situation. It is about making something no longer stay where it was or no longer belong there.
Think of a gardener removing weeds; they are taking away unwanted plants. Or imagine a surgeon removing an appendix, taking out something from the body. Sometimes "remove" implies force; other times, it simply means lifting and carrying something away. For instance, a teacher might remove a disruptive student from class, while you might carefully remove a delicate ornament from its box.
The word "remove" signifies the act of taking something away or eliminating it from a particular place or situation. It is a versatile verb with applications ranging from the practical to the abstract. For example: "The construction crew removed the old building to make way for a new one," or "She removed all traces of his presence from her life."
"Remove" can imply a physical action, like removing dirt from a surface, or it can be more figurative. You might remove an item from a list, remove doubt from your mind, or even remove yourself emotionally from a conflict.
The context often dictates the degree of force involved. A gentle removal might involve carefully lifting something, while a forceful removal could mean demolishing or discarding it entirely. Legal and professional contexts also use "remove" specifically—for example, to remove someone from office implies a formal process and justification for their dismissal.
The word comes from Latin roots that gave English the idea of moving something back or away. That history fits its core sense well: something is shifted out of a place, position, list, group, or state. Whether you are tidying up your room, solving a problem, or making a difficult decision, to remove is to take something away physically, emotionally, or conceptually, often creating space for something new or ending a problem.
Examples
- 1
Home etiquette
Please remove your shoes before you come inside.
- 2
Digital profiles
The app lets you remove photos from your profile.
- Patternremove X from Y
take X away from that place, list, or group
- 3
Cleaning
This spray should remove most stains from the carpet.
- 4
Online publishing
After the error was discovered, the article was removed from the website.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Workplace role
The manager was removed from the project after several complaints.
- Patternbe removed from + job/team/position
be officially taken out of it
- 6
Customer behavior
If a customer becomes aggressive, staff may ask them to remove themselves from the store.
- Patternremove yourself from + place/situation
leave it
- 7
Buyer confidence
The refund policy removes a lot of the risk for first-time buyers.
- Phraseremove the risk
make something less risky or worrying
- 8
Medical treatment
The treatment could remove the need for surgery.
- Patternremove the need for + noun
make it unnecessary
- 9
Artistic style
His latest album is a long way removed from his early pop songs.
- Phrasea long way removed from
very different from
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- removeverbnoun
Forms
- removedpast tenseverbnoun
- removing-ing formverbnoun
- removesverbnoun