WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026re•move /rɪˈmuv/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -moved, -mov•ing.
- to move or shift from a place or position:removed her hands from the steering wheel.
- to take off;
shed:to remove one's jacket.
- to dismiss from a position;
discharge:removed her from her job.
- to eliminate;
do away with or put an end to:to remove the threat of danger.
- to kill;
assassinate:He removed most of his rivals to the throne.
re•mov•a•ble, adj. See -mov-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026re•move
(ri mo̅o̅v′),USA pronunciation v., -moved, -mov•ing, n. v.t.
- to move from a place or position;
take away or off:to remove the napkins from the table.
- to take off or shed (an article of clothing):to remove one's jacket.
- to move or shift to another place or position;
transfer:She removed the painting to another wall.
- to put out;
send away:to remove a tenant.
- to dismiss or force from a position or office;
discharge:They removed him for embezzling.
- to take away, withdraw, or eliminate:to remove the threat of danger.
- to get rid of;
do away with;
put an end to:to remove a stain; to remove the source of disease.
- to kill;
assassinate.
v.i.
- to move from one place to another, esp. to another locality or residence:We remove to Newport early in July.
- to go away;
depart;
disappear.
n.
- the act of removing.
- a removal from one place, as of residence, to another.
- the distance by which one person, place, or thing is separated from another:to see something at a remove.
- a mental distance from the reality of something as a result of psychological detachment or lack of experience:to criticize something at a remove.
- a degree of difference, as that due to descent, transmission, etc.:a folk survival, at many removes, of a druidic rite.
- a step or degree, as in a graded scale.
- British Termsa promotion of a pupil to a higher class or division at school.
- Latin removēre. See re-, move
- Old French remouvoir
- Middle English removen (verb, verbal) 1250–1300
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged dislodge.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged displace, transport.
- 8.See corresponding entry in Unabridged murder.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged leave.
- 9.See corresponding entry in Unabridged remain.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
remove / rɪˈmuːv/ (mainly tr)- to take away and place elsewhere
- to displace (someone) from office; dismiss
- to do away with (a grievance, cause of anxiety, etc); abolish
- to assassinate; kill
- (intransitive) to change the location of one's home or place of business
- the act of removing, esp (formal) a removal of one's residence or place of work
- the degree of difference separating one person, thing, or condition from another: only one remove from madness
- (in certain schools) a class or form, esp one for children of about 14 years, designed to introduce them to the greater responsibilities of a more senior position in the school
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French removoir, from Latin removēre; see movereˈmovablereˌmovaˈbility, reˈmovablenessreˈmover
'removing' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):