What does "dismiss" mean?

1. (to reject an idea) to decide that something is not important or not worth thinking about. 2. (to allow to leave) to officially tell someone or a group that they can go. 3. (to fire from a job) to remove someone from their job, usually because they did something wrong. 4. (to stop a legal case) when a judge stops a court case from continuing. 5. (to get a player out) to end a player's turn in a game like cricket.

dismiss

US //dɪsˈmɪs// UK //dɪsmˈɪs// dis·miss

1 to reject an idea (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to decide that something is not important or not worth thinking about.

to refuse to consider an idea, suggestion, or possibility because it is deemed unworthy of serious attention.

Example

The boss dismissed my suggestion without even looking at the data.

Example

The committee dismissed the proposal as impractical, failing to recognize the long-term benefits of the suggested infrastructure upgrades.
- reject
- disregard
- brush off
- consider
- accept
2 to allow to leave (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to officially tell someone or a group that they can go.

to give permission to leave or to formally end a meeting or session.

Example

The teacher dismissed the class five minutes early because it was Friday.

Example

After the witness finished her testimony, the judge dismissed her and called for a brief recess before the next cross-examination.
- release
- send away
- summon
- detain

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3 to fire from a job (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

to remove someone from their job, usually because they did something wrong.

to terminate an individual's employment or service; often carries a more formal or legal tone than 'fire'.

Example

He was dismissed for consistently arriving late to the office.

Example

The board of directors voted to dismiss the CEO following a series of controversial financial disclosures that damaged the company's reputation.
- hire
- appoint
4 to stop a legal case (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical Formal Law

when a judge stops a court case from continuing.

to stop a court case from proceeding, often due to a lack of evidence or a procedural error.

Example

The judge dismissed the case because there was not enough evidence.

Example

The defense attorney successfully moved to have the charges dismissed on the grounds that the evidence had been obtained through an illegal search.
- throw out
- drop
- uphold
5 to get a player out (v.)
C1 Advanced British English Technical Sport

to end a player's turn in a game like cricket.

to end the innings of a batsman or a side in cricket.

Example

The star player was dismissed for only ten runs in the final match.

Example

The visiting team was dismissed for a surprisingly low total, largely due to the exceptional performance of the home side's spin bowlers.
- get out

Origin

Middle English, from Latin dimissus (“sent away, dismissed, banished”), perfect passive participle of dīmittō (“send away, dismiss”), from dis- + mittere (“to send”).