erase

[ ih-reys ]

verb (used with object)

, e·rased, e·ras·ing.

1. to rub or scrape out, as letters or characters written, engraved, etc.; efface.

   Synonyms: obliterate, expunge

   Antonyms: restore

2. to eliminate completely:

   She couldn't erase the tragic scene from her memory.

3. to obliterate (material recorded on magnetic tape or a magnetic disk):

   She erased the message.

   Antonyms: restore

4. to obliterate recorded material from (a magnetic tape or disk):

   He accidentally erased the tape.

5. Computers. to remove (data) from computer storage.
6. to exclude, replace, or refuse to recognize (the identity, experience, or contribution of a minority group or group member): whitewash ( def 7b ).

   Framing rape as a woman’s issue erases men’s accounts of sexual violence from public discourse.

7. Slang. to murder:

   The gang had to erase him before he informed on them.

verb (used without object)

, e·rased, e·ras·ing.

1. to give way to effacement readily or easily.
2. to obliterate characters, letters, markings, etc., from something.

erase

/ ɪˈreɪz /

verb

1. to obliterate or rub out (something written, typed, etc)
2. tr to destroy all traces of; remove completely

   time erases grief

3. to remove (a recording) from (magnetic tape)
4. tr computing to replace (data) on a storage device with characters representing an absence of data

Derived Forms

• eˈrasable, adjective

Other Words From

• e·rasa·bili·ty noun
• e·rasa·ble adjective
• half-e·rased adjective
• none·rasa·ble adjective
• une·rasa·ble adjective
• une·rased adjective
• une·rasing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of erase¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin ērāsus (past participle of ērādere ), equivalent to ē- e- ¹ + rāsus “scraped”; raze

Word History and Origins

Origin of erase¹

C17: from Latin ērādere to scrape off, from ex- ¹+ rādere to scratch, scrape

Synonym Study

See cancel.

Example Sentences

“Americans want to wake up in a normal country again,” Roberts began, likely euphemistically referring to Project 2025’s plan to all but erase federal protections and anti-discrimination measures based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

From Salon

By his estimate, the park has erased close to $15 million of his career earnings and left him $7 million in debt.

From Los Angeles Times

Newsom’s office said “a pardon grant recognizes the grantee’s self-development and accountability after conviction,” but does not erase a conviction or seek to minimize the harm caused by the recipient.

From Los Angeles Times

But those gains were erased by the rising crack epidemic that took root, and once again, MacArthur Park was lost to the people who needed it most.

From Los Angeles Times

They thought by doing so that maybe we could just erase the last five years and pick up where we left off.

From Salon

Related Words

• abolish
• delete
• eliminate
• expunge
• negate
• obliterate
• wipe out