eliminate

IPA/ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/
KK[ɪlˈɪmənˌet]IPA/ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/

eliminate — verb

  • eliminatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • eliminateshe / she / it
  • eliminatedpast simple
  • eliminating-ing form

1. to make something unwanted or unnecessary disappear completely, so that it no lo

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to make something unwanted or unnecessary disappear completely, so that it no longer exists or causes trouble

Example

The new software helped the company eliminate errors in its billing system.

eliminate + noun phrase (errors) for removing problems

Ryo eliminated sugar from his diet after his doctor warned him about diabetes.

eliminate + noun + from + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • eliminate errors
  • eliminate waste
  • eliminate poverty
  • eliminate risk
  • eliminate the need for
Synonyms
  • remove

    more general; can mean simply taking something away without necessarily destroying it

  • get rid of

    more informal; focuses on disposal rather than complete destruction

  • eradicate

    stronger and more formal; suggests destroying something down to the root, often used for diseases or social problems

Antonyms
  • introduce

    to bring something in as a new feature or element

  • retain

    to keep something rather than discard it

Grammar Patterns

eliminate + noun phrase

eliminate + noun phrase + from + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used with nouns that refer to problems, errors, waste, risks, or unnecessary items. The subject is typically a person, an organization, or a measure (e.g., a policy, a piece of software).

Common Mistakes

I eliminated the book from the shelf to make room.
I removed the book from the shelf to make room.
'eliminate' means to get rid of something completely or permanently, not just to move it elsewhere.
The medicine eliminated my headache for an hour.
The medicine relieved my headache for an hour.
for temporary relief, use 'relieve' or 'reduce'; 'eliminate' suggests the headache went away entirely.

2. to beat an opposing player or team in a contest, ending their chance to take par

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to beat an opposing player or team in a contest, ending their chance to take part in later stages of the event

Example

Our school team was eliminated in the first round of the national tournament.

passive: be eliminated in [round]

Nellie eliminated the defending champion in the semi-finals with a clever strategy.

active: person eliminates + opponent + in [round]

Common collocations
  • eliminated from the competition
  • eliminated in the first round
  • eliminate the defending champion
  • eliminate a contestant
Synonyms
  • knock out

    informal; specifically used in tournament-style competitions

  • defeat

    more general; does not necessarily imply removal from further rounds

Antonyms
  • qualify for

    to earn the right to enter or continue in a competition

Grammar Patterns

eliminate + noun phrase

be eliminated + from + noun phrase

be eliminated + in/by + noun phrase

Usage Note

Very common in passive constructions ('be eliminated'). The agent (by-phrase) is often left out when the competition context is already clear. The preposition 'from' introduces the competition; 'in' or 'at' introduces the stage.

Common Mistakes

The team eliminated the championship.
The team was eliminated from the championship.
the team is the one that loses, not the competition itself.

3. to murder someone, especially a political opponent, rival, or person considered

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to murder someone, especially a political opponent, rival, or person considered a threat, often in a planned or secret way

Example

The secret police were ordered to eliminate anyone who spoke against the government.

euphemistic register: eliminate [people] for murder

In the crime novel, the detective discovers who the gang leader wanted to eliminate.

Common collocations
  • eliminate a rival
  • eliminate opponents
  • eliminate a target
  • eliminate threats
Synonyms
  • kill

    neutral and direct; covers all causes of death

  • murder

    specific to intentional, unlawful killing

  • execute

    implies killing by official order or legal sentence

Antonyms
  • spare

    to choose not to kill someone when one has the power to do so

Grammar Patterns

eliminate + noun phrase (person/rival/opponent)

Usage Note

This sense has a euphemistic tone — the speaker avoids directly saying 'kill' or 'murder.' It is commonly found in political reporting, crime fiction, and espionage contexts. Not used for killing in self-defence or by accident.

Common Mistakes

The soldier eliminated the enemy in battle.
The soldier killed the enemy in battle.
'eliminate' sounds euphemistic and detached; direct combat is better described with 'kill' or 'shoot.'

Word family

  • elimination
    nounB2
  • eliminator
    nounC1
  • eliminatory
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four expressions share the idea of taking something away, but they differ in completeness and register. 'Remove' is the most general — it can mean simply taking something from one place to another (remove a book from a shelf). 'Get rid of' is informal and often used for disposal (get rid of old furniture). 'Eliminate' emphasises complete removal so that nothing remains (eliminate errors from a system). 'Eradicate' is the strongest and most formal, suggesting total destruction at the root (eradicate a disease). Use eliminate when the focus is on making something disappear entirely; use remove when you simply change its location; use eradicate for deep-seated problems; and use get rid of in everyday conversation with friends.

eliminate ↗remove ↗eradicate ↗get rid of

Common collocations

Nouns

  • eliminate errors
  • eliminate poverty
  • eliminate waste
  • eliminate risk
  • eliminate the need

Adverbs

  • completely eliminate
  • effectively eliminate
  • gradually eliminate
  • totally eliminate

Phrases

  • eliminate the possibility of
  • eliminate all traces of

Prepositions

  • eliminate from
  • eliminate by
  • eliminate in

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Eliminate comes from the Latin word 'eliminatus', which was formed from 'ex-' (meaning 'out') and 'limen' (meaning 'threshold'). In ancient Rome, to eliminate someone literally meant to push them over the threshold and out of the house — to banish them. Over centuries, the meaning broadened from 'banish a person' to 'get rid of anything unwanted', which is the main sense used today.