WordGarden.iouninstall
Pronunciation
UK
- /ˌʌnɪnstˈɔːl/
US
- /ˌənɪnˈstɔl/
Meanings
Verb
remove software from a computer or device
Noun
the act or process of removing software from a computer or device
Beyond the definition
To uninstall something is to remove software from a computer, phone, tablet, or other device. If an app keeps crashing or you no longer use it, you might uninstall it to free up space and keep your device tidy.
Uninstall is most often used with programs, apps, extensions, games, drivers, and updates. You might uninstall a photo editor from your laptop, uninstall a game from your phone, or uninstall a browser extension that has become annoying. It is a more specific word than delete: deleting an icon may only remove a shortcut, but uninstalling usually removes the program itself and some of the files that help it run.
To uninstall means to remove a piece of software from a device or system. For example: "I had to uninstall the app because it kept freezing," or "The technician uninstalled the old printer driver before installing the new one."
The word belongs mostly to the world of technology. People uninstall mobile apps, desktop programs, browser extensions, games, antivirus tools, plug-ins, updates, and device drivers. In many cases, uninstalling is done through a settings menu, an app store, a control panel, or a package manager.
Uninstall is related to install, which means to put software onto a device and make it ready to use. If installing is like moving furniture into a room and setting it up, uninstalling is like carrying it out again and clearing the space. Sometimes the process is simple, and sometimes small traces remain behind, such as saved preferences, account data, or leftover folders.
It is also used in workplace and technical contexts. An IT department might uninstall unauthorized software from company computers. A developer might uninstall one version of a tool before testing another. A support article might tell users to uninstall and reinstall a program when something has gone wrong.
In casual or humorous speech, uninstall can be used figuratively to mean removing something from your life or habits, as if it were an unwanted app. Someone might say, "I need to uninstall that bad habit from my brain," though this is playful rather than standard formal usage.
So when you uninstall something, you are taking software out of a system. Whether it is an app on your phone, a driver on your computer, or a metaphorical habit you wish you could remove with one click, uninstall is about clearing away what has already been installed.
Examples
- 1
Phone app
I uninstalled the game from my phone last night.
- 2
Troubleshooting
If the app isn't working, uninstall it and reinstall it.
- 3
Software update
You need to uninstall the old version before you download the new one.
- 4
Office security
The program was uninstalled from every office computer after the security warning.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Built-in apps
I can't uninstall that app because it came preinstalled on the laptop.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- uninstall