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remove

removed; removing; removes

You can remove your name from a list, remove a stain from a t-shirt, or remove old furniture from your house. Whatever it is, when you remove something, you take it somewhere else or get rid of it completely.

The verb remove usually means taking something off or getting rid of something. For example, when you take off your coat, you remove it, or when you remove a skillet from the heat, you take it off the burner. Remove can apply to people: a law-breaking politician who is removed from office. As a noun remove indicates distance, such as being at one remove from your cousin, getting all his news from his mother.

Definitions of remove
  1. verb
    remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
    remove a threat”
    remove a wrapper”
    Remove the dirty dishes from the table”
    synonyms: take, take away, withdraw
    see moresee less
    types:
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    depilate, epilate
    remove body hair
    harvest
    remove from a culture or a living or dead body, as for the purposes of transplantation
    tip
    remove the tip from
    stem
    remove the stem from
    extirpate
    surgically remove (an organ)
    enucleate
    remove (a tumor or eye) from an enveloping sac or cover
    exenterate
    remove the contents of (an organ)
    enucleate
    remove the nucleus from (a cell)
    decorticate
    remove the cortex of (an organ)
    bail
    remove (water) from a vessel with a container
    disinvest, divest, strip, undress
    remove (someone's or one's own) clothes
    ablate
    remove an organ or bodily structure
    clean, pick
    remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits
    clean
    remove shells or husks from
    winnow
    blow away or off with a current of air
    pick
    remove in small bits
    clear, clear up
    free (the throat) by making a rasping sound
    muck
    remove muck, clear away muck, as in a mine
    lift
    remove from a surface
    lift
    take off or away by decreasing
    lift
    remove from a seedbed or from a nursery
    tear away, tear off
    rip off violently and forcefully
    take off
    take away or remove
    take away, take out
    take out or remove
    pit, stone
    remove the pits from
    seed
    remove the seeds from
    unhinge
    remove the hinges from
    shuck
    remove the shucks from
    hull
    remove the hulls from
    crumb
    remove crumbs from
    chip away, chip away at
    remove or withdraw gradually: "These new customs are chipping away at the quality of life"
    burl
    remove the burls from cloth
    knock out
    destroy or break forcefully
    clean, scavenge
    remove unwanted substances from
    hypophysectomise, hypophysectomize
    remove the pituitary glands
    degas
    remove gas from
    husk, shell
    remove the husks from
    bur, burr
    remove the burrs from
    clear away, clear off
    remove from sight
    flick
    remove with a flick (of the hand)
    dismantle, strip
    take off or remove
    strip
    remove a constituent from a liquid
    clear
    remove
    defang
    remove the fangs from
    bone, debone
    remove the bones from
    disembowel, draw, eviscerate
    remove the entrails of
    shell
    remove from its shell or outer covering
    shuck
    remove from the shell
    detusk, tusk
    remove the tusks of animals
    dehorn
    prevent the growth of horns of certain animals
    scalp
    remove the scalp of
    weed
    clear of weeds
    condense
    remove water from
    bail out, bale out
    remove (water) from a boat by dipping and throwing over the side
    leach, strip
    remove substances from by a percolating liquid
    decalcify
    remove calcium or lime from
    detoxicate, detoxify
    remove poison from
    de-ionate
    remove ions from
    de-iodinate
    remove iodine from
    decarbonise, decarbonize, decarburise, decarburize, decoke
    remove carbon from (an engine)
    delouse
    free of lice
    ream
    remove by making a hole or by boring
    brush
    remove with or as if with a brush
    wash, wash away, wash off, wash out
    remove by the application of water or other liquid and soap or some other cleaning agent
    desorb
    remove from a surface on which it is adsorbed
    pull
    take away
    demineralise, demineralize
    remove the minerals or salts from
    eliminate
    remove (an unknown variable) from two or more equations
    clear out, drive out, expectorate
    clear out the chest and lungs
    carve out
    remove from a larger whole
    defuse
    remove the triggering device from
    dredge
    remove with a power shovel, usually from a bottom of a body of water
    wear away, wear off
    diminish, as by friction
    amputate, cut off
    remove surgically
    eviscerate, resect
    surgically remove a part of a structure or an organ
    cream, cream off, skim, skim off
    remove from the surface
    strip
    remove the surface from
    strip
    strip the cured leaves from
    descale, scale
    remove the scales from
    circumcise
    cut the foreskin off male babies or teenage boys
    undock
    take (a ship) out of a dock
    cut into, delve, dig, turn over
    turn up, loosen, or remove earth
    dig, excavate, hollow
    remove the inner part or the core of
    lift out, scoop, scoop out, scoop up, take up
    take out or up with or as if with a scoop
    draw out, extract, pull, pull out, pull up, take out
    remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense
    take out
    remove something from a container or an enclosed space
    unstring
    remove the strings from
    string
    remove the stringy parts of
    wipe away, wipe off
    remove by wiping
    bear away, bear off, carry away, carry off, take away
    remove from a certain place, environment, or mental or emotional state; transport into a new location or state
    unveil
    remove the cover from
    take out, unpack
    remove from its packing
    disburden, unburden
    take the burden off; remove the burden from
    empty
    remove
    discharge
    remove the charge from
    offsaddle, unsaddle
    remove the saddle from
    cast, cast off, drop, shake off, shed, throw, throw away, throw off
    get rid of
    dislodge, free
    remove or force out from a position
    clean
    remove while making clean
    aspirate, draw out, suck out
    remove as if by suction
    cancel, delete
    remove or make invisible
    lade, laden, ladle
    remove with or as if with a ladle
    spoon
    scoop up or take up with a spoon
    gut
    remove the guts of
    head
    remove the head of
    draw away, draw off, pull off
    remove by drawing or pulling
    clean, strip
    remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely
    draw, take out
    take liquid out of a container or well
    draw, get out, pull, pull out, take out
    bring, take, or pull out of a container or from under a cover
    leach
    cause (a liquid) to leach or percolate
    draw
    cause to flow
    draw, draw off, take out, withdraw
    remove (a commodity) from (a supply source)
    exuviate, molt, moult, shed, slough
    cast off hair, skin, horn, or feathers
    discase, disrobe, peel, strip, strip down, uncase, unclothe, undress
    get undressed
    bus
    remove used dishes from the table in restaurants
    milk
    take milk from female mammals
    bare, denudate, denude, strip
    lay bare
    clear-cut
    remove all the trees at one time
    stump
    remove tree stumps from
    deforest, disafforest, disforest
    remove the trees from
    declaw
    remove the claws from
    dehorn
    take the horns off (an animal)
    pod
    take something out of its shell or pod
    lift
    remove (hair) by scalping
    stub
    clear of weeds by uprooting them
    kill, obliterate, wipe out
    mark for deletion, rub off, or erase
    cross off, cross out, mark, strike off, strike out
    remove from a list
    delete, erase
    wipe out digitally or magnetically recorded information
    bring out, get out
    take out of a container or enclosed space
    abrade, abrase, corrade, rub down, rub off
    wear away
    slough off
    separate from surrounding living tissue, as in an abortion
    abscise
    shed flowers and leaves and fruit following formation of a scar tissue
    pare, peel, skin
    strip the skin off
    bark, skin
    remove the bark of a tree
    decorticate
    remove the outer layer of
    furrow, groove, rut
    hollow out in the form of a furrow or groove
    root, rootle, rout
    dig with the snout
    spade
    dig (up) with a spade
    drive
    excavate horizontally
    ditch, trench
    cut a trench in, as for drainage
    dip
    scoop up by plunging one's hand or a ladle below the surface
    shovel
    dig with or as if with a shovel
    trowel
    use a trowel on; for light garden work or plaster work
    squeeze out, wring out
    extract (liquid) by squeezing or pressing
    demodulate
    extract information from a modulated carrier wave
    pulp
    remove the pulp from, as from a fruit
    thread
    remove facial hair by tying a fine string around it and pulling at the string
    deplumate, deplume, displume, pluck, pull, tear
    strip of feathers
    deterge
    wipe away; to wash off or out, cleanse; chiefly in medical use: to clear away foul matter from the body
    spirit away
    carry away rapidly and secretly, as if mysteriously
    spirit away, spirit off
    carry off mysteriously; as if by magic
    whisk away, whisk off
    take away quickly and suddenly
    cart away, cart off, haul away, haul off
    take away by means of a vehicle
    unbox
    remove from a box
    break out
    take from stowage in preparation for use
    uncrate
    remove from the crate
    lighten
    reduce the weight on; make lighter
    offload, unlade, unload
    take the load off (a container or vehicle)
    exfoliate
    cast off in scales, laminae, or splinters
    autotomise, autotomize
    cause a body part to undergo autotomy
    efface, erase, rub out, score out, wipe off
    remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing
    excise, expunge, scratch, strike
    remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line
    slop
    ladle clumsily
    unsheathe
    draw from a sheath or scabbard
    pump
    draw or pour with a pump
    siphon, siphon off, syphon
    convey, draw off, or empty by or as if by a siphon
    sluice
    draw through a sluice
    tap
    draw (liquor) from a tap
    suck
    draw something in by or as if by a vacuum
    rack
    draw off from the lees
    deglycerolise, deglycerolize
    remove from glycerol
    burrow, tunnel
    move through by or as by digging
    check out, cheque
    withdraw money by writing a check
    dip
    take a small amount from
    divert, hive off
    withdraw (money) and move into a different location, often secretly and with dishonest intentions
    overdraw
    draw more money from than is available
    tap
    draw from or dip into to get something
    disinvest, divest
    reduce or dispose of; cease to hold (an investment)
  2. verb
    shift the position or location of, as for business, legal, educational, or military purposes
    “He removed his children to the countryside”
    Remove the troops to the forest surrounding the city”
    remove a case to another court”
    synonyms: transfer
    see moresee less
    type of:
    shift, transfer
    move around
  3. verb
    remove from a position or an office
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    types:
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    unseat
    remove from political office
    boot out, drum out, expel, kick out, oust, throw out
    remove from a position or office
    can, dismiss, displace, fire, force out, give notice, give the axe, give the sack, sack, send away, terminate
    terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position
    drop
    terminate an association with
    pull off
    cause to withdraw
    winkle out
    force from a place or position
    invalid
    force to retire, remove from active duty, as of firemen
    bench
    take out of a game; of players
    retire
    make (someone) retire
    pension off
    let go from employment with an attractive pension
    excommunicate
    oust or exclude from a group or membership by decree
    clean out
    force out
    furlough, lay off
    dismiss, usually for economic reasons
    squeeze out
    force out
    depose, force out
    force to leave (an office)
    dismiss, drop, send away, send packing
    stop associating with
  4. verb
    cause to leave
    synonyms: move out, take out
    see moresee less
    types:
    clear
    remove (people) from a building
    call in
    take a player out of a game in order to exchange for another player
    estrange
    remove from customary environment or associations
  5. verb
    go away or leave
    synonyms: absent
    see moresee less
    type of:
    disappear, go away, vanish
    get lost, as without warning or explanation
  6. verb
    dispose of
    synonyms: get rid of
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    types:
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    cast aside, cast away, cast out, chuck out, discard, dispose, fling, put away, throw away, throw out, toss, toss away, toss out
    throw or cast away
    slough off
    discard as undesirable
    comb out, weed out
    remove unwanted elements
    work off
    cause to go away through effort or work
    cull
    remove something that has been rejected
    ditch, dump
    sever all ties with, usually unceremoniously or irresponsibly
    unmuzzle
    remove the muzzle from (a dog)
    de-aerate, deaerate
    remove air or gas from
    decaffeinate
    remove caffeine from (coffee)
    decarbonate
    remove carbon dioxide from
    decerebrate
    remove the cerebrum from (a human body)
    dechlorinate
    remove chlorine from (water)
    defat
    remove the fat from
    defibrinate
    remove fibrin from (blood)
    degrease
    remove grease or oil from (a pan)
    deionize
    remove ions from
    delist
    remove (a security) from listing at a stock exchange
    delocalize
    remove from the proper or usual locality
    deoxygenate
    remove oxygen from (water)
    destain
    remove stain from (a laboratory specimen) to enhance contrast
    desulfurize, desulphurize
    remove sulfur from
    detick
    free (a pet) of ticks
    devein
    remove the dark dorsal vein of (a shrimp)
    fettle
    remove mold marks or sand from (a casting)
    flesh
    remove adhering flesh from (hides) when preparing leather manufacture
    flense
    strip the blubber or skin from (a whale or seal)
    kern
    remove a portion of space between (adjacent letters)
    pith
    remove the pith from (a plant)
    scum
    remove the scum from
    unbridle
    remove the bridle from (a horse or mule)
    unlearn
    discard something previously learnt, like an old habit
    deep-six, give it the deep six
    toss out; get rid of
    jettison
    throw away, of something encumbering
    junk, scrap, trash
    dispose of (something useless or old)
    waste
    get rid of
    dump
    throw away as refuse
    retire
    dispose of (something no longer useful or needed)
    abandon
    forsake; leave behind
    liquidize, sell out, sell up
    get rid of all one's merchandise
    de-access
    dispose of by selling
    close out
    terminate by selling off or disposing of
  7. verb
    get rid of something abstract
    “The death of her mother removed the last obstacle to their marriage”
    synonyms: take away
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    types:
    wash away
    eliminate
  8. verb
    kill intentionally and with premeditation
    synonyms: bump off, dispatch, hit, murder, off, polish off, slay
    see moresee less
    types:
    burke
    murder without leaving a trace on the body
    execute
    murder in a planned fashion
    type of:
    kill
    cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
  9. noun
    degree of figurative distance or separation
    “"just one remove from madness" or "it imitates at many removes a Shakespearean tragedy”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    distance
    the property created by the space between two objects or points
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘remove'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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