liquidate

/ˈlɪkwɪdeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪkwɪdeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈli-kwə-ˌdāt/ (ame, mw)

liquidate — verb

  • liquidatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • liquidateshe / she / it
  • liquidatedpast simple
  • liquidating-ing form

1. to officially close a company and sell everything it owns, using the money to pa

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to officially close a company and sell everything it owns, using the money to pay back what it owes to lenders and suppliers.

例句

The shareholders voted to liquidate the company after its debts grew beyond control.

passive alternative: be liquidated

Santiago's grandfather had to liquidate his furniture workshop when he could no longer pay the rent.

同義詞
  • close down

    less formal and less specific about selling assets to pay debts

  • wind up

    common in British English, especially for voluntary closure

  • dissolve

    legal term for ending a company's existence, especially for partnerships

反義詞

文法句型

liquidate + a company / a firm / a business

be liquidated (passive)

用法筆記

Commonly used in the passive voice ("the business was liquidated"). Often appears alongside bankruptcy, insolvency, creditor protection, or court-ordered closure. The person who carries out the process is called a 'liquidator.'

常見錯誤

❌The bakery was liquidated because it had too many customers.
✅The bakery was liquidated because it could not pay its suppliers.
💡Liquidation happens when a business fails financially, not when it is successful.

2. to kill someone, especially a political opponent or a person seen as a threat, o

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to kill someone, especially a political opponent or a person seen as a threat, often secretly or violently.

例句

During the civil war, rival groups liquidated anyone suspected of supporting the other side.

political context: rival groups during war

The dictator's secret police were ordered to liquidate the leaders of the student protest movement.

同義詞
  • eliminate

    broader and can mean removing by non-lethal means; common in espionage contexts

  • assassinate

    more specific — the target is usually a prominent public figure

  • exterminate

    stronger — implies wiping out an entire group

反義詞
  • spare

    to choose not to kill or harm someone

文法句型

liquidate + a person / a group / an enemy

用法筆記

This sense carries a very strong negative connotation and is associated with totalitarian regimes, organised crime, or wartime violence. It is almost never used in everyday conversation. The direct word 'kill' or 'murder' is preferred in most ordinary contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The vet liquidated the injured dog.
✅The regime liquidated its political opponents.
💡This sense is not used for animals, accidents, or natural deaths. It refers to deliberate killing of people for political or criminal reasons.

3. to sell something you own, such as shares, property, or investments, so that you

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to sell something you own, such as shares, property, or investments, so that you have cash instead of other forms of value.

例句

Ananya liquidated her stock portfolio to raise the deposit for her first house.

liquidate + stock portfolio / shares

The retired couple liquidated their investment properties and placed the money in a savings account.

同義詞
  • sell off

    less formal and broader in scope

  • convert

    broader — can mean changing into any form, not just cash

  • cash out

    informal, especially for withdrawing from an investment

反義詞
  • invest

    to put money into assets rather than take it out

  • buy

    to acquire rather than sell

文法句型

liquidate + assets / shares / property / investments

用法筆記

Typically used for financial assets such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, or business assets. Not used for selling everyday personal items such as furniture, clothes, or a car — use 'sell' instead.

常見錯誤

❌I liquidated my old bicycle at the weekend market.
✅The investor liquidated her mutual fund shares to free up cash.
💡This sense applies to financial assets and investments, not to personal belongings.

4. to pay a debt in full so that nothing is owed any longer.

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to pay a debt in full so that nothing is owed any longer.

例句

Mali used her inheritance to liquidate the remaining mortgage on her apartment.

liquidate + a mortgage / a loan / a debt

The company liquidated all its outstanding loans before applying for a new line of credit.

同義詞
  • pay off

    less formal and more common in everyday English

  • settle

    can mean paying part or all of a debt

  • discharge

    formal legal term for clearing a debt or obligation

反義詞
  • borrow

    to take on debt rather than clear it

  • incur

    to become subject to a debt or obligation

文法句型

liquidate + a debt / a loan / a mortgage

用法筆記

Formal register. Used mostly of mortgages, loans, credit card balances, and other financial obligations. The more common everyday equivalent is 'pay off.'

常見錯誤

❌I liquidated my friend for the pizza I ordered.
✅He liquidated his credit card balance with a bank loan.
💡This sense only applies to formal financial debts, not to casual expenses or favours.