delete

[ dih-leet ]

verb (used with object)

, de·let·ed, de·let·ing.

1. to strike out or remove (something written or printed); cancel; erase; expunge.

   Synonyms: eradicate

delete

/ dɪˈliːt /

verb

1. tr to remove (something printed or written); erase; cancel; strike out

Other Words From

• de·leta·ble adjective
• rede·lete verb (used with object) redeleted redeleting
• unde·leted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of delete¹

1485–95; < Latin dēlētus (past participle of dēlēre to destroy), equivalent to dēl- destroy + -ē- thematic vowel + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of delete¹

C17: from Latin dēlēre to destroy, obliterate

Synonym Study

See cancel.

Example Sentences

“Every year, the noose tightens a little more. We finally have a mandate to delete the mountain of choking regulations that do not serve the greater good.”

From Los Angeles Times

On his third day on the run, Mr Khalife sent a now deleted Telegram message to an Iranian contact, and he later sent another which said simply: "I wait."

From BBC

And though she has since deleted this comment, she didn't delete it fast enough, and feeds soon flooded with commentary from an expanse of people calling for her head.

From Salon

I deleted Waze, which thinks you can cross six lanes of traffic on Olympic without a light.

From Los Angeles Times

Late in life, Jones reflected on his mortality, telling The Times that he had deleted the names of 188 friends and associates from his iPhone in a single year.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• annul
• black out
• cross out
• cut out
• destroy
• eliminate
• erase
• expunge
• omit
• remove
• wipe out

More About Delete

What is basic definition of delete?

Delete means to remove or destroy something, specifically something that is written, printed, or stored on a computer.

Before the Internet, delete often referred to removing something from drafts of books, letters, newspapers, and other materials. Today, delete often refers to either hitting a key on a keyboard that erases text or telling a computer to get rid of a file, as by placing a document in the trash can. A person may also want to delete (deactivate) a social media account.

• Real-life examples: When you’re writing an essay, you might delete some paragraphs and add others. To better use data storage space, you might delete all of your junk email or delete a bunch of photos from your smartphone.
• Used in a sentence: The reporter deleted the final two paragraphs of the story in order to make it shorter. 

Where does delete come from?

The first records of delete come from around 1485. It comes from the Latin dēlēre, meaning “to destroy.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to delete?

• deletion (noun)
• deletable (adjective)
• redelete (verb)
• undeleted (adjective)

What are some synonyms for delete?

• erase
• remove
• expunge
• destroy
• eliminate

What are some words that share a root or word element with delete? 

• deletion

What are some words that often get used in discussing delete?

• computer
• text
• draft
• file
• email
• picture
• keyboard

How is delete used in real life?

Delete is a common word that most often refers to destroying or erasing something on a computer.

Time to film exactly what I filmed yesterday and NOT DELETE THE FILES

— Chloe Donald 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@ChloeDonald_) May 6, 2015

When downloading a PDF, if it ends with .exe, delete it. It's probably a virus.

— Fact (@Fact) December 2, 2020

Being an adult is just constantly deleting emails from your inbox

— Meemze (@MimiLei_) December 2, 2020

Try using delete!

True or False?

If you delete a text message, you are erasing it from your device.