dismiss

[ dis-mis ]

verb (used with object)

1. to direct (an assembly of persons) to disperse or go:

   I dismissed the class early.

2. to bid or allow (a person) to go; give permission or a request to depart.

   Antonyms: recall

3. to discharge or remove, as from office or service:

   to dismiss an employee.

   Synonyms: fire

   Antonyms: hire

4. to discard or reject:

   to dismiss a suitor.

   Antonyms: accept

5. to put off or away, especially from consideration; put aside; reject:

   She dismissed the story as mere rumor.

6. to have done with (a subject) after summary treatment:

   After a perfunctory discussion, he dismissed the idea.

7. Law. to put out of court, as a complaint or appeal.

dismiss

/ dɪsˈmɪs /

verb

1. to remove or discharge from employment or service
2. to send away or allow to go or disperse
3. to dispel from one's mind; discard; reject
4. to cease to consider (a subject)

   they dismissed the problem

5. to decline further hearing to (a claim or action)

   the judge dismissed the case

6. cricket to bowl out (a side) for a particular number of runs

sentence substitute

1. military an order to end an activity or give permission to disperse

Derived Forms

• disˈmissible, adjective
• disˈmissive, adjective

Other Words From

• dis·missi·ble adjective
• predis·miss verb (used with object)
• redis·miss verb (used with object)
• undis·missed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dismiss¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin dismissus, from Latin dīmissus “sent away,” past participle of dīmittere “to send away,” from Latin dī, variant of dis- dis- ¹ + mitt(ere) “to let go, send”

Word History and Origins

Origin of dismiss¹

C15: from Medieval Latin dismissus sent away, variant of Latin dīmissus, from dīmittere, from dī- dis- ¹+ mittere to send

Synonym Study

See release.

Example Sentences

In July, the legal case against Baldwin, who was on trial for manslaughter, was dismissed due to the prosecution's failure to turn over evidence to the defense.

From Salon

In July, a judge dismissed an involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin after police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defence.

From BBC

Trump’s spokesman, Steven Cheung, called the decision by the court a “total and definitive victory for President Trump” and said that Trump’s “legal team is moving to get it dismissed once and for all.”

From Salon

It said Bzhania's deputy would become Abkhazia's acting leader, who would then dismiss the current prime minister.

From BBC

In a cheeky twist, the film they dismiss is Curtis's own Love Actually.

From BBC

Related Words

• depose
• discharge
• disqualify
• fire
• impeach
• let go
• oust
• recall
• retire
• sack
• suspend
• terminate